Brought to you by Penguin.

We Were There is about a Black Britain that for too long has been unknown and unexplored – the one that exists beyond London.

From the late 1970s to the early 1990s Britain was in tumult: rocked by Margaret Thatcher’s radical economic policy, the rise of the National Front, widespread civil unrest. With anti-immigration policies in the political mainstream, Black lives were on the frontline of a racial reckoning. But it was also a time of unrivalled Black cultural creation, organising and resistance. This was the crucible in which modern Britain came into existence.

We Were There brings into the spotlight for the first time extraordinary Black lives in once-rich cities now home to failing industries: the foundries of Birmingham, the docks of Liverpool and Cardiff, the mills of Bradford. We are in Wigan, Wolverhampton, Manchester and the green expanse of the British countryside. We meet feminists and Rastafarians, academics and pan-Africanists, environmental campaigners and rugby-league superstars; witness landmark campaigns against miscarriages of justice; encounter radical groups of artists and pioneering thinkers; tread dancefloors that hosted Northern Soul all-nighters and the birth of Acid House.

Together, these voices and stories rewrite our idea of Black British culture. London was only ever part of the picture – We Were There is about incorporating a vastly broader range of Black Britons into the fabric of our national story.

Alive with energy and purpose, We Were There decisively expands our sense of who we are. Confronting, joyful and thrilling, this is a profoundly important new portrait of modern Britain.

© Lanre Bakare 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

We Were There by Lanre Bakare, ready by Oliver Wellington - Extract 8

We Were There by Lanre Bakare, ready by Oliver Wellington - Extract 9

We Were There by Lanre Bakare, ready by Oliver Wellington - Extract 10

On July 1, 1975, Kelsey Grammer's younger sister, 18-year-old Karen Grammer, was raped and murdered—now, for the first time, Kelsey discusses how it has affected him and the hope and healing he has found in the decades since.

Karen by Kelsey Grammer delves into the deeply personal and tragic story of the author's sister, Karen, who was brutally murdered at the age of 18. Kelsey was just 20 years old and studying theater at Juilliard in New York when his younger sister, a recent high school graduate, moved to Colorado Springs, where she was kidnapped by several men who had intended to rob the Red Lobster where she worked. They instead kidnapped Karen, raped her repeatedly, and ultimately stabbed her to death.

Through this memoir, Grammer poignantly recounts the memories of his sister and the impact her loss had on his life and family. With raw honesty, Grammer explores the profound grief and devastation that followed Karen's death, as well as the long and arduous journey toward healing. He bravely confronts the pain of losing a loved one to senseless violence, offering readers a glimpse into the complexities of coping with such a profound loss.

Karen also serves as a testament to Grammer's resilience and determination to transform tragedy into a source of inspiration and empowerment. In sharing his story, Grammer aims to help others who have experienced similar loss, offering them solace and encouragement on their own paths toward healing.

Karen is not merely a memoir of loss, but a powerful testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit and the capacity for hope in the face of such overwhelming and devastating loss. This book is a moving tribute to a life cut tragically short, a testament to the enduring bond between siblings, and a message of hope at a time when we need it the most.

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KAREN written & narrated by Kelsey Grammer | Chapter 1

Read by the author.

How can we "rejoice always" when the world often seems so broken? Andrew Klavan explores how artists' imaginative engagement with the darkness can point the way to living beautifully in the midst of a tragic world.

In his USA Today bestselling The Truth and Beauty, Andrew Klavan explored how the work of great poets helps illuminate the truth of the gospels. Now, the award-winning screenwriter and crime novelist turns his attention to the dark side of human nature to discover how we might find joy and beauty in the world while still being clear-eyed about the evil found in it.

The Kingdom of Cain looks at three murders in history—including the first murder, Cain's killing of his brother, Abel—and at the art created from imaginative engagement with those horrific events by artists ranging from Fyodor Dostoevsky to Alfred Hitchcock. To make beauty out of the world as it is—shot through with evil and injustice and suffering—is the task not just of the artist but, Klavan argues, of every life rightly lived. Examining how that transformation occurs in art grants us a vision for how it can happen in our lives.

Klavan eloquently argues that it is possible to be clear-eyed about the evil in the world while remaining hope-filled about God's ability to redeem it all.

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THE KINGDOM OF CAIN written & narrated by Andrew Klavan | Introduction

Brought to you by Penguin.

What happens when you find love, but life keeps getting in the way?

When she first meets Adam, Coralie is new to London and feeling adrift. But Adam is clever, witty, and – he insists – half an inch taller than the average British male. His charming four-year-old daughter, Zora, only adds to his appeal.

And yet ten years on, something important is missing from the life Coralie and Adam (though let’s face it, mostly Coralie) have built. Or maybe, having gained everything she dreamed of, Coralie has lost something she once had: herself.

Set against an eventful decade that included the soap opera of five Prime Ministers plus Brexit and Covid, Consider Yourself Kissed puts the subjects of love and family on a grand stage, bringing to life how the intimate drama in our homes inescapably competes for energy and attention with the shared drama of our times.

Consider Yourself Kissed is a captivating portrait of a woman in love which effortlessly balances sweetness with bite, the public with the personal, and humour with heart.


'Deeply appealing . . . At once a smart literary love story and an absorbing family drama' MEG WOLITZER

'Clever, joyful, familiar . . . and so funny' NINA STIBBE

'A beautiful romcom for grown-ups' ELLA RISBRIDGER

© Jessica Stanley 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica Stanley, read by Lydia Leonard - 2022 and Chapter 1

Brought to you by Penguin.

'We love a rags-to-riches story, and we love to see someone triumph through sheer determination. But the story is rarely that simple. My story isn't, anyway.

'As the middle of five kids growing up in dire poverty, the odds were low on Katriona O'Sullivan making anything of her life. When she became a mother at 15 and ended up homeless, what followed were five years of barely coping.

This is the extraordinary story - moving, funny, brave, and sometimes startling - of how Katriona turned her life around. How the seeds of self-belief planted by teachers in childhood stayed with her. How she found mentors whose encouragement revived those seeds in adulthood.

Now an award-winning lecturer whose work challenges barriers to education, Poor stands as a stirring argument for the importance of looking out for our kids' futures. Of giving them hope, practical support and meaningful opportunities.

©2023 Katriona O'Sullivan (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Poor, written and read by Katriona O'Sullivan

Libérate de las limitaciones y conviértete en todo lo que fuiste creada para ser. De Menos a Más es una guía transformadora para mujeres de todas partes que buscan confianza, propósito y la fuerza para superar los obstáculos de la vida — todo a través del poder de la fe.

Desde una niña en Cuba hasta una carrera pionera en la televisión estadounidense, la vida de Rashel es un testimonio de resiliencia, determinación y del poder ilimitado de la fe. Sus triunfos y luchas se entrelazan en una conmovedora historia que demuestra que tú también puedes superar los desafíos de la vida y descubrir el plan que Dios tiene para ti.

Este libro es más que una memoria — es una hoja de ruta para el crecimiento personal. Con calidez y honestidad, Rashel aborda los obstáculos que enfrentan tantas mujeres hoy, ofreciendo sabiduría práctica y un aliento sincero para ayudarte a:

Silenciar la duda interna y creer en tu propio valor.
Sanar las heridas del desamor, el divorcio o la traición.
Fortalecer la autoestima y afirmarte en quien eres.
Superar la discriminación, las expectativas sociales y las barreras invisibles.
Reemplazar la impulsividad con decisiones conscientes que reflejen tu propósito.
Transformar hábitos destructivos en actos de bondad y generosidad.
Si estás lista para elevarte, caminar por fe y entrar en la mejor etapa de tu vida, aquí encontrarás la inspiración y el aliento que necesitas.

From Less to More

Break free from limitations and step into all you were meant to be. From Less to More is an empowering guide for women everywhere who are searching for the confidence, purpose, and the strength to overcome life’s hurdles — all through the power of faith.

From a young girl in Cuba to a trailblazing career in American television, Rashel’s life has been a testament to resilience, determination, and the boundless power of belief. Her triumphs and struggles come together as a moving testament to how you, too, can rise above life’s challenges and discover the life God has planned for you.

This book is more than just a memoir — it’s a roadmap to personal growth. With warmth and honesty, Rashel addresses the obstacles faced by so many women today, offering practical wisdom and heartfelt encouragement to help you:

Silence self-doubt and believe in your own worth.
Heal the wounds left by heartbreak, divorce, or betrayal.
Build self-esteem and stand strong in who you are.
Overcome discrimination, societal expectations, and invisible barriers.
Replace impulsiveness with thoughtful choices that reflect your purpose.
Transform destructive habits into acts of kindness and generosity.
If you're ready to rise above, walk in faith, and step into your best life, you’ll find the encouragement and inspiration you need right here.

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