From one of Lebanon's most acclaimed writers, ONLY IN LONDON is a heartbreaking and funny novel about love and about life. I SWEEP THE SUN OFF ROOFTOPS, al-Shaykh's collection of stories, published alongside. For fans of Ahdaf Soueif, Joanne Harris, Barbara Kingsolver and Meera Syal. 'Magically brings to life a usually ignored slice of the capital with a sharply drawn cast of characters. A fresh, amusing and surprising take on London, and on life' THE TIMES

As a flight from Dubai comes into London's Heathrow and hits turbulence, four people from different corners of the Arab world are thrown together: beautiful, lost Lamis, recently divorced from her wealthy Iraqi husband; Nicholas, an expert at Southeby's on Islamic daggers; louche and noisy Amira, a Moroccan who lives off immoral earnings and the transvestite Samir, with a monkey hidden in a basket. Landing safely they go their separate ways, but from then on they find their lives are intimately entwined. ONLY IN LONDON is a funny, tender and sexy novel that uncovers a unique world in the heart of a big city.