{"title":"Books by James Bailey","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9781405945714","title":"The Flip Side","description":"\u003cp\u003eFALL IN LOVE WITH THIS HILARIOUSLY ROMANTIC STORY ABOUT A SECOND CHANCE AT LOVE . . .\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e 'Charming, funny and very relatable!' JOSIE SILVER\u003cbr\u003e 'Made me laugh out loud, cry my heart out and put a big grin on my face' 5***** Reader Review\u003cbr\u003e 'Utterly adorable and romantic. I feel uplifted!' GIOVANNA FLETCHER\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eIt's love . . . what could go wrong?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e When Josh proposes in a pod on the London Eye at New Years' Eve, he thinks it's perfect.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eUntil she says no.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And they have to spend the next 29 \u003ci\u003eexcruciating\u003c\/i\u003e minutes alone together.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Realising he can't trust his own judgment, Josh decides from now on he will make every decision through the flip of a coin.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eMaybe the coin will change his life forever.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Maybe it will find him find the girl of his dreams . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Hilarious, feel-good and uplifting. Fans of \u003ci\u003eThe Flatshare, Don't You Forget About Me \u003c\/i\u003eand Richard Curtis will LOVE this. A romantic comedy perfect for anyone who has ever failed at love.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'A funny, sparky read that feels fresh and modern . . . this book is fab' SOPHIE COUSENS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 'Really sweet, warm hearted story with some very funny moments . . . Thoroughly enjoyed it' CARRIE HOPE FLETCHER\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 'Refreshing, funny and heart-warming . . . we could not get enough of this' \u003ci\u003eHEAT, Read of the Week\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 'It's like finding yourself in the middle of the warmest, funniest, most amazing romantic comedy you've ever comes across. Everyone is going to fall in love with it' MIRANDA DICKINSON\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 'Lovely, very funny'\u003ci\u003e i \u003c\/i\u003enewspaper, best new books for the autumn    \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'I devoured this book in a few hours and couldn't put it down . . . a laugh-out-loud, heart-warming romantic comedy that will leave you pondering whether you could ever leave fate up to the flip of a coin'\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'It's always a good sign when a story has me laughing out loud from the first few chapters!'\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'It was fantastic! A perfect summer read!!'\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'A lovely story for modern times with lovely characters throughout'\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'A hilarious book that I enjoyed reading from beginning to end. There wasn't a dull moment'\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'A lovely, laugh out loud romcom ... I read \u003ci\u003eThe Flip Side\u003c\/i\u003e in two sittings, and didn't want it to end'\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56298645324149,"sku":"9781405945714","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781405945714_990d2cf6-52ff-44b9-b4d1-1b705b9b7989.jpg?v=1786019766"},{"product_id":"9781405945738","title":"The Way Back To You","description":"\u003cp\u003eFall in love with the hilarious and heart-warming new novel of long lost loves and second chances, from the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Flip Side\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Chances are you will fall in love with this rom-com packed with wit, long lost love and second chances' \u003ci\u003eCOSMOPOLITAN'S \u003c\/i\u003eBEST NEW BOOKS IN JUNE\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A charming story filled with wit and romance. I loved it' OLIVIA BEIRNE\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'I literally couldn't put it down, beautifully written. A tale of pen pals, pretty French towns and sweet friendships - I loved it! LORRAINE BROWN\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A delightful read, full of warmth and humour' CAROLINE KHOURY\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThree friends. Two summers. One chance to find the way back to you . . .\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen Simon reconnects with his first love Sylvie - the French pen pal he never met - he is determined to not let her go again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHowever, life isn't so straight-forward at sixty as it was at sixteen. His daughter's getting married, he's got a B\u0026amp;B to run, and his larger-than-life school friend, Ian, has abruptly waltzed back into his life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDeciding to seize this second chance, Simon sets off on a bike ride from Bristol to Bordeaux with Ian in tow, on the very same route they covered as teenagers in pursuit of love.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut although they now have better bikes, more acceptable haircuts, and Google Maps, some things never change, and it soon becomes clear that this trip will have even more bumps in the road than the first . . .\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'A joyful gem of a book that will have you cheering on its protagonist' \u003ci\u003eCULTUREFLY\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePraise for THE FLIP SIDE!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Refreshing, funny and heartwarming, we could not get enough of this' \u003ci\u003eHEAT\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Utterly adorable and romantic. I feel uplifted!' GIOVANNA FLETCHER\u003cbr\u003e'Utterly charming, funny and very relatable!' JOSIE SILVER\u003cbr\u003e'A wonderful, feel-good gem of a book'\u003ci\u003e SUN\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A funny, sparky read that feels fresh and modern . . . this book is fab' SOPHIE COUSENS\u003cbr\u003e'Really sweet, warm hearted story with some very funny moments . . . Thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a lovely way to start the new year' CARRIE HOPE FLETCHER\u003cbr\u003e'The ultimate rom-com' \u003ci\u003eINDEPENDENT\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56298912612725,"sku":"9781405945738","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781405945738_5a31d5a2-4cc7-47d8-bd31-1b712b1dd076.jpg?v=1786019767"},{"product_id":"9781474475976","title":"Muriel Spark's Early Fiction","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis book presents a detailed critical analysis of a period of significant formal and thematic innovation in Muriel Spark’s literary career. Spanning the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s, it identifies formative instances of literary experimentation in texts including \u003ci\u003eThe Comforters\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Driver’s Seat\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Public Image\u003c\/i\u003e, with an emphasis on metafiction and the influence of the \u003ci\u003enouveau roman\u003c\/i\u003e. As the first critical study to draw extensively on Spark’s vast archives of correspondence, manuscripts and research, it provides a unique insight into the social contexts and personal concerns that dictated her fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56301050036597,"sku":"9781474475976","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781474475976_c68d5c5e-0400-47c9-83b6-85f3472e7434.jpg?v=1786021066"},{"product_id":"9781472149671","title":"The Meaning of Life","description":"With letters from Dame Jane Goodall, Oliver Burkeman, Dame Hilary Mantel, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Sir John Major and many more . . .   In 2015, James Bailey was down on his luck, unemployed, heartbroken, and living alone in his caravan wondering where it had all gone wrong. His life wasn't panning out the way he had always dreamt it would. Becoming desperate for guidance to turn his life around, James wrote to hundreds of luminaries to ask them the very same question. What is the meaning of life?After years of writing, waiting and hoping, soon James had garnered an incredible collection of responses, collated here for the first time. Inside you'll find touching, thought-provoking and enlightening musings from scientists, writers, campaigners, athletes, political leaders, entertainers and philosophers.   The Meaning of Life is the ultimate uplifting collection from people of all walks of life, connecting through one meaningful question that will broaden our understanding of what it means to be human.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":57682667078005,"sku":"9781472149701","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":56301110395253,"sku":"9781472149671","price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781472149701_51816a6b-3f21-4818-86c7-306c81c27f5f.jpg?v=1792511589"},{"product_id":"9781802271607","title":"Culture Redefined","description":"\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Paperback \/ softback","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56307297550709,"sku":"9781802271607","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781802271607_c22c2f4a-749d-4399-86ab-5430accf5f83.jpg?v=1786026927"},{"product_id":"like-a-cat-loves-a-bird","title":"Like a Cat Loves a Bird","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"\u003c\/i\u003eThis is a deeply stylish, astute and illuminating biography of a fascinating writer\"\u003cbr\u003eFRANCESCA WADE, author of \u003ci\u003eSquare Haunting\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Utterly charming. A book as elegant, sharp-witted and mischievous as its subject\"\u003cbr\u003eCLARE POLLARD, author of \u003ci\u003eDelphi\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"She was, if you believe what you read in the papers: a genius, a survivor, a bad mother, a fickle friend, a closeted lesbian, a tyrant, a loner, an eccentric, a recluse, a gossip, and an arch-manipulator. She would politely encourage you not to believe what you read in the papers.\"\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMuriel Spark was one of literature's great shapeshifters. That mercurial quality is found in her strange, brilliant, cruel novels - with their plots featuring pensioners receiving telephone calls from Death, the devil going clubbing in Peckham and a fascist schoolmistress leading her coterie of girls astray - but it is also true of her as a person. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs sly, nimble and elegant as Spark's own work, \u003ci\u003eLike a Cat Loves a Bird\u003c\/i\u003e is a thrilling new perspective on a remarkable life and career that spanned much of the twentieth century. From her childhood in Edinburgh to her final years in Tuscany - via South Africa, London, New York and Rome - it traces a light-footed journey around the world and through her strange and magnificent bibliography. It tells an irresistible story of transformation, wit and fierce determination and makes a passionate case for this vital modern artist.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"You don't have to be a Muriel Spark fan to enjoy the sharp wit of \u003ci\u003eLike a Cat Loves a Bird\u003c\/i\u003e, a fascinating and nuanced exploration of the sacrifices some make to focus on their art\"\u003cbr\u003eLUKE TURNER, author of \u003ci\u003eOut of the Woods\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Vital, fun and immediate . . . full of engaging and astute literary analysis of Spark's work as well as scintillating, vivid biography\"\u003cbr\u003eFRANCESCA REECE, author of \u003ci\u003eGlass Houses\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A readable and fascinating book, about an under-appreciated literary giant\" \u003cbr\u003eLUCINDA HAWKSLEY, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Mystery of Princess Louise\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":57483530469749,"sku":"9781399742528","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":57682883707253,"sku":"9781399742535","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781399742528.jpg?v=1792511718"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-james-bailey.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}