"This ... guide to wine is the perfect accopmpaniment to a knackered mother's frantic life. ... The advice pairs well with a ... schedule of work, kids and grown-up time. On offer are reliable recommendations for Sunday roasts, wines to impress, sparkling wine for children's parties (because adults need something fizzy too) and post-bedtime decompresssion, as well as tips on what to offload on the school raffle."--Back cover.

Love love love this book. It doesn't just simplify wine, it simplifies life. Essential reading.' India KnightDo you frequently panic in the wine aisle and end up reaching for the same old thing. Every. Single. Time?Have you found yourself picking the bottle with the nicest-looking label?Do you automatically pick the second-cheapest wine on the list? Are you looking to extend your wine horizons beyond Pinot Grigio?You need The Knackered Mother's Wine Guide. Come and explore the wonderful world of wine with drinks expert Helen McGinn. With tips on how to make the right wine choices for every occasion, from children's parties (because adults need something fizzy too) to planning a wedding or matching wine with food, this book will help you to choose with confidence.Learn what to look for in the discount deals and discover the can't-go-wrong crowd-pleasers, perfect reds to go with your Sunday roast, the best wine to drink with chocolate, plus some unexpected suggestions for your next night in. Wine is about far more than just what's in the glass (although that's important too); it brings us together and helps us to find a moment to stop, connect and share stories. This crash-course guide will help you know what to look for in fridge-door whites, store cupboard reds so that you can make the most of time spent together to raise a glass for a special occasion, or wind-down when the kids have finally gone to bed.Because life's too short to drink bad wine.

Everything can change – In Just One Day Flora has always adored her brother Billy. Born just eighteen months apart, their childhood was spent like two peas in a pod – no one could separate them. Now, as adults, they remain the best of friends. And as Flora is immersed in family life, Billy is always there to lend a hand. But, in just one day, everything changes. In just one day, Flora’s life falls apart. In just one day, Flora has to learn how to live again. From the nostalgia of seaside Britain to the breath-taking beauty of Venice, in tears and laughter, join Helen McGinn for this emotional, uplifting and joyful story about love in all its guises. But above all, this is an unforgettable story of one little girl and the brother she adored. Helen McGinn has written a novel to recommend to all your friends, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Noble, Cathy Kelly and JoJo Moyes. Praise for Helen McGinn: 'Escapist, warm, witty and wise' Daily Mail 'This is a lovely uplifting book that transported me away, firstly to the beautiful city of Rome and then to gorgeous Cornwall. It’s a moving and emotional story of families in all their messy wonderfulness, of people losing one another, and then coming together again - sometimes in unexpected ways. A hugely enjoyable family tale,it was exactly what I wanted to read at this time.' Louise Douglas ‘This Changes Everything is the perfect tonic. An uplifting, forget-about-everything-else read that I couldn’t put down. Romantic, emotional and page-turning, Helen McGinn’s debut novel can’t fail to cheer you up!' Zoe Folbigg 'I loved reading this book. I needed escapism - don't we all need escapism right now - and it gave me Rome, Cornwall and a family who immediately felt like old friends. I took it to the bath, to bed and had finished it within 24 hours. It was the perfect antidote to tough times.' Victoria Moore The Daily Telegraph

In this lighthearted guided journal, Daily Mail wine columnist Helen McGinn simplifies wine education for amateur wine drinkers who want to know more about wine and are looking for a fun, easy way to learn. Fifty-two weeks of intuitive fill-ins become a self-taught course in wine-tasting, gleaned from evaluating one new wine each week, combined with McGinn's streamlined explanations of key wine knowhow (what distinguishes common wine styles, how to read wine labels, what wine terminology really means, and more). Users end up with a working knowledge of wine, an understanding of which wines they enjoy and why, the confidence to shop for wine, and a lasting record of all the new wines they've tried over the year.

Ever decided to go booze-free only to find the alternatives a little, well . . . boring? If you're embarking on a dry spell, this book is just the tonic (so to speak). Drinks expert Helen McGinn shows you how to make the most of your time off the sauce with plenty of recipes for simple homemade mocktails, infusions and cordials, along with a guide to non-alcoholic wines, beers and spirits worth adding to your drinks cupboard. Think of this book as a friend, with a (dry) sense of humour, to keep you company in style through your booze-free spell.

'Simple, creative ideas on what to drink when you are not drinking, from the queen of drinks.' - Anna Jones 'Exciting alternatives for alcohol-free drinking.' - Tom Kerridge One of BBC R4's The Food Programme Books of the Year One of The Times Top 10 Food & Drink Books of 2020 Whether you're on the wagon for good or just looking to take a couple of alcohol-free days a week, avoiding alcohol doesn't have to mean missing out on flavour or fun. This beautiful and inspiring book includes tips and recipes for ferments, cordials and shrubs, as well as delicious alcohol-free cocktails and juices. Created by Fiona Beckett, one of the country's leading wine writers, you can be assured that every recipe in this book has earned its place as a tasty and exciting alternative to alcohol. Whether you wish to mix a pitcher of Strawberry Punch for a summer party, sample a Kaffir Lime Mojito on a Friday night or fill your drinks cabinet with Wild Cherry and Star Anise Shrub, this book is packed with creative ideas and gorgeous flavours.

'Escapist, warm, witty and wise' Daily MailShould first love be left in the past, or is first love, forever love... Sisters Annie and Jess are used to their mother Julia being spontaneous. But when Julia announces she’s flying off to Rome to meet her first love Patrick, whom she hasn’t seen for fifty years, it's an adventure too far. So, her daughters decide the only way to keep Julia safe, is to go too – without actually telling their mother she has chaperones! Julia and Patrick’s love story was everything – epic, once-in-a-lifetime, with a tragic ending and life-long consequences. First love is hard to forget, but sometimes, just sometimes, life delivers a chance to rewrite your story. As the eternal city of Rome works its magic, old secrets, old friends and old loves become new possibilities and new dreams. And when the four travellers return home, nothing will ever be the same again. Join Helen McGinn for a timeless, joyous, unforgettable journey through love, family, and long-forgotten dreams. A novel to hold to your heart and treasure, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Noble, Cathy Kelly and JoJo Moyes. Praise for This Changes Everything: 'This is a lovely, uplifting book that transported me away, firstly to the beautiful city of Rome and then to gorgeous Cornwall. It’s a moving and emotional story of families in all their messy wonderfulness, of people losing one another, and then coming together again - sometimes in unexpected ways. A hugely enjoyable family tale, it was exactly what I wanted to read at this time.' Louise Douglas ‘This Changes Everything is the perfect tonic. An uplifting, forget-about-everything-else read that I couldn’t put down. Romantic, emotional and page-turning, Helen McGinn’s debut novel can’t fail to cheer you up!' Zoe Folbigg 'I loved reading this book. I needed escapism - don't we all need escapism right now - and it gave me Rome, Cornwall and a family who immediately felt like old friends. I took it to the bath, to bed and had finished it within 24 hours. It was the perfect antidote to tough times.' Victoria Moore, The Daily Telegraph

Why would you walk away from the one person you can’t live without? As a child, Vicky Hall never had the sort of family she wanted. The least important person in her new step-family, ignored by her mother in favour of her two younger half-siblings, Vicky was always an afterthought. Sitting alone at her graduation ceremony at the age of twenty-one, she vows to create her own family and her own life, one which is full of the love and attention she has always craved. When Vicky meets William and falls pregnant in Greece that summer, it isn’t planned. But the two of them believe they can make it work, showering their child with the love which they believe should be enough. But when her son Theo is two, Vicky leaves him in the care of her mother-in-law, walks out of her front door and drives to a hotel where she takes a room for the night. She doesn’t return. It’s unthinkable. What kind of mother does that? The kind who is hiding a story you can never imagine. The Mother I Could Have Been is a heartbreaking story of impossible decisions and second chances, from the bestselling author of The Silent Wife and The Woman I Was Before. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Liane Moriarty and Diane Chamberlain. Readers are loving The Mother I Could Have Been! ‘WOW!… An amazing read!!!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘I wish I could have read this book in one sitting… I literally couldn't put it down.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘Kerry Fisher goes from strength to strength, with The Mother I Could Have Been being her best book yet.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘This is a book that once I picked up, it totally consumed me. I ended up reading it in one evening as I was so absorbed by what was in front of me and I had to see how everything was going to end… An absolute must read.’ By the Letter Book Reviews, 5 stars ‘I have loved every book I’ve read by this author and this is no exception. I loved it. I didn’t want it to end. Excellent read.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars ‘An incredible read. So well written and heartfelt.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars ‘I don’t even know how to start this review as I know my words will never do it justice. Each time I pick one of Kerry’s books up, I wonder how it is going to top her previous book as each and every one I’ve read has absolutely blown me away and warmed me to the core.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘Another great Kerry Fisher read… this book makes you want to hug your loved ones and tell them you love them as you never know what’s around the corner!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘Awesome story… grab your hankies! Read in one day.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘LOVED this book so much… Beautifully written and such a great read. Highly recommend.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘5 stars! I absolutely love Kerry Fisher’s writing… Highly recommend The Mother I Could Have Been.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘A cracking good read… Loved it.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘Oh my goodness what a story! …I absolutely was drawn into it from the very beginning.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Loved it!!! When I got to the end, I shouted NOOOOOOO!!! (In my head, not out loud.) I couldn't believe it was over.’ NetGalley reviewer ‘Gripping, heartbreaking, emotional page turner! Wow! … I couldn't stop reading this book! I was hooked! This book has drama written all over it!’ Goodreads reviewer

WINNER OF THE FORTNUM & MASON FOOD AND DRINK AWARDS 2018 'Smart, fun, useful - highly recommended' Hugh Johnson, co-author of The World Atlas of Wine 'With apologies to Jamie and Nigella - The Wine Dine Dictionary is going to be my new kitchen bible. It should probably be yours, too' Metro Want to pick the perfect wine for dinner? Wondering what to eat with a special bottle? Let The Wine Dine Dictionary be your guide. Arranged A-Z by food at one end and A-Z by wine at the other, this unique handbook will help you make more informed, more creative, and more delicious choices about what to eat and drink. As one of the country's most popular and influential wine journalists, as well as an expert in the psychology of smell and taste, Victoria Moore doesn't just explain what goes with what, but why and how the combination works, too. Written with her trademark authority, warmth and wit, this is a book to consult and to savour.

'People in Japan take their drink seriously. But alcohol is seriously bad for you. This book will tell you how to hold your drink - without dying from the consequences' HENRY GEE, Senior Editor, Nature, and author of The Accidental Species: Misunderstandings of Human Evolution 'Drinking can be one of life's great pleasures, but it can also be very harmful and dangerous. Here is a sensible, science-driven, and thought-provoking look at both the pluses and minuses of alcohol as well as tips on how to hopefully enjoy your favourite tipple in a safer way. Kanpai!' BRIAN ASHCRAFT, author of The Japanese Saké Bible and Japanese Whisky 'A refreshingly honest look at booze and how to get the best out of it. I can definitely drink to that.' HELEN McGINN, author of The Knackered Mother's Wine Club ALCOHOL CAN BE GOOD FOR YOU! In this uniquely Japanese mix of quirky fun and hard science, alcohol is revealed not as a poison, but as the best of all medicines . . . up to a point. If we drink healthily, drinkers need never give up what we love. Kaori Haishi is a journalist and the director of the Japan Saké Association; Dr Shinichi Asabe is a liver specialist who likes a drink. Kaori Haishi interviewed a line-up of twenty-five booze-loving physicians, including Japan's leading expert on throwing up, a sleep specialist on how nightcaps can cause depression and a professor on how drinking too much beer can prevent the secretion of testosterone. Now, with Dr Asabe's expert medical help, she has written this book. Universally relevant information about the effects of wines, beers and spirits on the human body is delivered with clarity and precision, backed up by plentiful footnotes citing the latest academic research. The unfailingly amusing Haishi has particularly empathetic advice for women, including the merits of saké as a miracle skin-care product. The book explores all sorts of issues, such as: Bitter Medicine - how beer can help to prevent dementia. Shakes on a Plane - is in-flight drinking dangerous? Mellow Yellow - checking the colour of your pee. Snack Attacks - secrets for avoiding weight gain. And that perennial mystery . . . how do the French get away with it?