The No-Show

Book excerpt: The funny, heart-breaking and uplifting new novel from the author of The Flatshare *The instant Sunday Times Top 5 bestseller* 'Ingenious, heartwarming and romantic' SOPHIE KINSELLA 'Surprising and deeply satisfying' EMILY HENRY 'The kind of book that leaves an impression on your heart' HOLLY MILLER 'Such a clever, finely woven, sweet and heart-rending story' BOLU BABALOLA Three women. Three dates. One missing man... 8.52 a.m. Siobhan is looking forward to her breakfast date with Joseph. She was surprised when he suggested it - she normally sees him late at night in her hotel room. Breakfast on Valentine's Day surely means something ... so where is he? 2.43 p.m. Miranda's hoping that a Valentine's Day lunch with Carter will be the perfect way to celebrate her new job. It's a fresh start and a sign that her life is falling into place: she's been dating Carter for five months now and things are getting serious. But why hasn't he shown up? 6.30 p.m. Joseph Carter agreed to be Jane's fake boyfriend at an engagement party. They've not known each other long but their friendship is fast becoming the brightest part of her new life in Winchester. Joseph promised to save Jane tonight. But he's not here... Meet Joseph Carter. That is, if you can find him. The No-Show is the brilliantly funny, heart-breaking and joyful new novel from Beth O'Leary about dating, and waiting, and the ways love can find us. An utterly extraordinary tearjerker of a book, this is O'Leary's most ambitious novel yet. 'The kind of book you want all your friends to read so that you can talk about it non-stop' LIZZIE DAMILOLA BLACKBURN 'A brilliant, multilayered, romantic stunner' LAUREN HO 'Sweepingly romantic, bursting with character, and so, so clever' GILLIAN McALLISTER 'A superb rom-com with a heart wrenching twist' DAILY EXPRESS 'Perfect escapism: romantic and uplifting with a twist you won't see coming' LUCY DIAMOND 'Charming and delightful!' LAURA WILLIAMS 'It will break your heart in a million different ways' LOUISE O'NEILL 'A truly brilliant book' LUCY VINE 'Fresh and surprising yet still so distinctly Beth O'Leary' CAROLINE HULSE 'This book will stop-start your heart with plenty of tears and plenty of laughter' LIA LOUIS 'Fresh, clever, superbly plotted . . . A triumph' MIKE GAYLE 'Beth O'Leary at her very best' LINDSEY KELK 'Achingly clever, another fabulous read from Beth O'Leary' SOPHIE COUSENS A Sunday Times Top 5 bestseller w/c 24/04/2022