Ruth Jones

The joyful and life-affirming new novel from the BAFTA-winning co-writer of Gavin and Stacey and the Sunday Times bestselling and Richard and Judy Book Club author of Love Untold. After thirty-three years helping strangers at the council's Unclaimed Heirs Unit, Linda is looking forward to early retirement. But first, one last case: tracking down the relatives of the deceased Levi Norman, a Welshman who spent his final years on a remote Scottish island. As Linda delves into Levi's past, aided (and occasionally thwarted) by the residents of Storrich, she uncovers more than just his story. Bursting with heart and humour, By Your Side is about finding joy in the most unlikely connections, and the importance of holding on to friendship, love and community - especially when life gets messy.

''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.

The joyful and life-affirming new novel from the BAFTA-winning co-writer of Gavin and Stacey and the Sunday Times bestselling and Richard and Judy Book Club author of Love Untold.''Ruth Jones writes with such warmth you can''t help but fall in love with the characters she creates.''JAMES CORDEN---Because second chances come when you least expect them . . .Linda Standish has been a friend to the friendless for the past thirty-three years, in her role at the council’s Unclaimed Heirs Unit. And now she’s looking forward to the joys of 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 five years before he died. Linda must visit Storrich to track down Levi''s remaining relatives . . .What brought Levi here? And who did he leave behind? Obliged to travel (by hearse!) with her arch nemesis, and helped (and hindered...) by the 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 a joyful celebration of friendship, love and community.*SPECIAL HARDBACK LIMITED EDITION - AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER WHILE STOCKS LAST*---Readers are loving By Your Side!''Funny and heartbreaking and wonderful. Five huge flashing stars'' ***** Reader Review''A brilliant, life-affirming, feel-good book'' ***** Reader Review''Filled me with a great deal of joy'' *****Reader Review''It’s one to devour in one sitting and tell your friends about.'' *****Reader Review''I did not want this to end'' *****Reader Review''I loved Linda''s job - working for the council as a sort of special detective... (Is this a real job, and can I do it?)'' *****Reader Review''My first book by the wonderful Ruth Jones and I''m kicking myself I haven''t read any sooner.'' *****Reader ReviewPraise for Ruth Jones: ''Ruth Jones is excellent on human nature and why we make the mistakes we do'' JOJO MOYES, bestselling author of Me Before You and Someone Else''s Shoes''A cast of characters you''ll lose your heart to.'' ADELE PARKS, bestselling author of Just Between Us''Beautifully warm and totally absorbing.'' JANE FALLON, bestselling author of My Sweet Revenge and Strictly Between Us''Warm, smart, uplifting'' BETH O’LEARY, bestselling author of The Flat Share''Heartfelt, joyful, brave, utterly compelling'' RACHEL JOYCE, bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry''Ruth''s characters will stay with me for a long time.'' CATHY BRAMLEY, bestselling author of The Lemon Tree Café

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. 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.

The new novel from Ruth Jones, co-creator of Gavin & Stacey and author of the smash-hit, number one bestselling debut, Never Greener. 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.

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 . . .

"Életünk javát azzal töltjük, hogy azt kívánjuk, bárcsak valahol máshol, vagy mások lennénk, várunk valamire, vagy a múlton kérődzünk. Mindig azt képzeljük, hogy a másik oldalon zöldebb a fű. De sosem zöldebb. Változatlanul fű, épp csak egy másik darabka. Ez minden." A múlt szokása, hogy a nyomunkra bukkan, és elgáncsol. Kate huszonkét évesen szenvedélyes viszonyt folytatott egy nős férfival, Callummal, ami szívfájdalommal ért véget. A lány úgy érezte, sosem teszi túl magát rajta. Tizenhét évvel később, Kate sikeres színésznő, Londonban lakik, házas, az ötéves Tallulah édesanyja. Callum boldogan él Edinburgh-ban a feleségével és immár felnőtt gyermekeivel. Úgy tűnik, mindnyájan végleg maguk mögött hagyták a múltat. Ám Kate és Callum újra találkozik, és választás elé kerül. Lemondanak egymásról, vagy vállalják a kockázatot, hogy megtudják, mi lett volna...

"Életünk javát azzal töltjük, hogy azt kívánjuk, bárcsak valahol máshol, vagy mások lennénk, várunk valamire, vagy a múlton kérődzünk. Mindig azt képzeljük, hogy a másik oldalon zöldebb a fű. De sosem zöldebb. Változatlanul fű, épp csak egy másik darabka. Ez minden." A múlt szokása, hogy a nyomunkra bukkan, és elgáncsol. Kate huszonkét évesen szenvedélyes viszonyt folytatott egy nős férfival, Callummal, ami szívfájdalommal ért véget. A lány úgy érezte, sosem teszi túl magát rajta. Tizenhét évvel később, Kate sikeres színésznő, Londonban lakik, házas, az ötéves Tallulah édesanyja. Callum boldogan él Edinburgh-ban a feleségével és immár felnőtt gyermekeivel. Úgy tűnik, mindnyájan végleg maguk mögött hagyták a múltat. Ám Kate és Callum újra találkozik, és választás elé kerül. Lemondanak egymásról, vagy vállalják a kockázatot, hogy megtudják, mi lett volna...