A real-world version of the pillar in the glasshouse where the gardeners carved their initials can be found in the Thunderbox Room of the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall, where the garden staff signed their names on the wall before leaving to join the war. But wealth and privilege were no protection from grief either, and while the original owners of Hopwood Home are my own invention, their story was partly inspired by that of the Hoare family of Stourhead – now another National Trust property. Henry Hoare, their sole son and heir who died during the course of the Great War, lent his name to Hal – and it was only after I had written several drafts of the book that I realized one of the buildings in the Stourhead gardens is known as the Temple of Flora.
Maggie Harcourt is the critically-acclaimed author of The Last Summer of Us, Unconventional and Theatrical. As well as studying medieval literature at UCL, Maggie has variously worked as a PA, a hotel chambermaid and for a French chef before realizing her dreams and beginning to write full time. She lives in Bath with her family.
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The air smells of hot, dry grass trampled underfoot. It smells of diesel, of cider and cigarettes and burgers and ice cream and the ends of things. The end of the summer.
The end of us: of Steffan and Jared and me.
This is the story of a road trip.
The story of three best friends crammed into a clapped-out car full of regrets and secrets, on a journey that will change their lives for ever.
A story of love, lies, grief, friendship and growing up. A story you’ll never forget.
“Exquisitely sad and yet touchingly beautiful. And so, so real.”
HOLLY BOURNE, AUTHOR OF “AM I NORMAL YET?”
“A gorgeous one-of-a-kind novel, perfect for fans of Rainbow Rowell.” MAXIMUM POP!
“Breathlessly brilliant – spine-tinglingly romantic, unashamedly geeky, smart and funny…It’s a perfect meeting of worlds: fantastic fandoms, books you want to live inside and a completely gorgeous love story.” MIRANDA DICKINSON, SUNDAY TIMES BEST-SELING AUTHOR
“Unconventional is the ultimate love story for the age of fandom and, much like a meeting with your favourite celebrity, it will leave you breathless.” MEREDITH RUSSO, AUTHOR OF “IF I WAS YOUR GIRL”
“Maggie Harcourt is the UK’s answer to Rainbow Rowell. Unconventional is original, funny and I wish I could transport myself into it, amongst all the characters who stole my heart right from the beginning.” LUCY THE READER
“Unconventional is the swooniest swoonfest.” MELINDA SALISBURY, AUTHOR OF “THE SIN EATER’S DAUGHTER”
Hope is happiest out of the spotlight, working backstage at her local theatre, so she can’t believe her luck when she lands a top internship on a major show. However, with a Hollywood star cast in the lead, and his young understudy upstaging Hope’s heart, she soon wishes life would stick to the script. Hope has to prove she’s got what it takes. But with a big secret and so much buzz around the show, it isn’t long before Hope finds herself centre stage…
A Hollywood star, a top director, a sold-out show, a major crush…and a girl with everything to prove.
“The UK’s answer to Rainbow Rowell”
LUCY POWRIE
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First published in the UK in 2020 by Usborne Publishing Ltd., Usborne House, 83-85 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8RT, England. www.usborne.com
Text © Maggie Harcourt 2020
The right of Maggie Harcourt to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
Author photograph © Lou Abercrombie
Close up surface floating water with ripples © MP_Foto/Shutterstock; Lonely girl sitting in front of lake © Sirle Kabanen/Shutterstock; Green sea water in calm © Joe Besure/Shutterstock; Autumn Tree Reflecting in Ripple in Creek © Michael Warwick/Shutterstock
The name Usborne and the devices are Trade Marks of Usborne Publishing Ltd.
All rights reserved. This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or used in any way except as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or loaned or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
EPUB: 9781474984324 KINDLE: 9781474984331
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The Pieces of Ourselves Page 27