The Bride Factory

The first volume of the award-winning romantic comedy manga – that's now also a hit anime series – with over a million copies in print in Japan!Girl meets boy the old-fashioned way - in an online game. The first volume of the popular manga that inspired the anime series!College student Akane has just been dumped by her boyfriend. Heartbroken, she decides to quit the online RPG they used to play together, but instead of deleting her account, she logs in and battles low-level enemies to relieve her stress and hurt feelings. There, she meets Yamada, an elite pro gamer so reclusive that Akane can’t decide if he’s awkward or alluring.When Akane encounters her ex at a gaming convention, she makes the snap decision to pretend Yamada is her boyfriend and soon the two of them are spending more time together in the game and in real life. The problem is, Yamada is only interested in the game. As Akane's feelings grow, will Yamada's focus stay on the game?Volume 1 includes Chapters 1-9.

'A gripping read' SUNDAY TIMESINTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2024 DAGGER FOR CRIME FICTION IN TRANSLATIONPRIZE WINNER OF FRANCE'S FIRST NOVEL AWARD'Riveting' OBSERVER'Totally addictive' ALICE SLATER'I couldn't put it down' JOHN BOYNEFrom the outside, she has an enviable life: a successful career, stunning looks, a beautiful house in the suburbs, two healthy children, and most importantly, an ideal husband. After fifteen years together, she is still besotted with him. But she's never quite sure that her passion is reciprocated.Determined to keep their relationship perfect, she meticulously prepares for every encounter they have, always taking care to make her actions seem effortless. She watches him attentively, charting every mistake and punishing him accordingly to help him improve. And she tests him - setting traps to make sure that he still loves her just as much as he did when they first met.Until one day she realizes she may have gone too far . . .With the surprise of

* VOTED CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2024 ** VOTED NOVEL OF THE YEAR @ TIKTOK 24 AWARDS ** AN INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER ** OVER 6,000 FIVE STAR REVIEWS ** AUDIBLE NO.1 SIX WEEKS IN A ROW *Note: There is a chance the book cover you receive may differ from the cover displayed here.'Gloriously dark' Lucy Foley'A moody, slippery novel' Gillian McAllister'One hundred percent brilliant' Clare Mackintosh'Shocking and creepy and glorious' Nicola Walker'Utterly addictive' Claire Douglas___________Celebrating her 45th birthday at her local pub, podcaster Alix Summer crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie is also celebrating her 45th.A few days later, they bump into each other again, this time outside Alix's children's school. Josie says she thinks she would be an interesting subject for Alix's podcast. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.Alix agrees to a trial interview and indeed, Josie's life appears to be strange and complicated. Alix fin