The Barbecue at No.9

***THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER***<BR><BR>'A wonderful slow-burn story about friendship, community, and secrets within families.' GUARDIAN<BR>'Gentle, wryly humorous ... a breezily entertaining read.' THE TIMES<BR>'Uplifting and compassionately told' i PAPER<BR>'From the very first page I was in awe. I LOVED it.' MARIAN KEYES<BR>'A beautiful story about secrets, lies and community.' GRAHAM NORTON<BR><BR><BR>From the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things ...<BR><BR>It's the summer of 1985 and the residents of Delmont Close are preparing a neighbourhood barbecue to watch the biggest music event in history: Live Aid. A day like no other that will end having reached millions and changing the lives of all who attend.<BR><BR>House-proud Lydia Gordon, whose idols are Princess Di and Delia Smith, is determined to put on a show that will impress everyone - with her posh garden and state-of-the-art television, and her sweet husband and two children, Hanna and David.<BR><BR>But as the guests flood into number nine, so do all of the secrets that have been kept in the close.<BR><BR>Rita, a new neighbour from Australia, is hoping for a fresh start but harbours a shocking event in her past; Steve, a young Falklands veteran, battles his own demons; and Mr Wilson is surely too good-looking to ever be trusted.<BR><BR>But as the hours count down to the last performance of the night, it's Lydia who faces the heart-breaking truth that her immaculate home and flawless family might not be so perfect after all.<BR><BR>And if each of their neighbours is guilty of hiding something, so are the Gordons at number nine ...<BR><BR>'Meets every expectation. A glorious read. Jennie Godfrey's second novel is every bit as compelling a read as her first - this will be seen on all the best sun loungers.' Velvet Magazine<BR><BR>Praise for The List of Suspicious Things<BR><BR>'Gripping and moving' GUARDIAN<BR>'To read it is to feel that little bit better about life' ELIZABETH DAY<BR>'A beautiful mystery with heart' ROB RINDER<BR>'A heart-warming book' EMMA HEALEY<BR>'A wonderful story' FEARNE COTTON<BR>