Elizabeth Day Books

Op basis van haar eigen ervaringen legt de Britse schrijfster en journaliste uit wat je kunt leren van dingen die fout gaan, waarin je te kort schiet of mislukt.

A game-changing guide to being happier, healthier and succeeding better, based on the Sunday Times bestseller - 150,000 copies sold!

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of How to Fail and Magpie ‘Elizabeth Day has revolutionised the way we see failure’ Stylist ‘A beautiful timely and humane book’ Alain de Botton

THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, NOW WITH AN EXTRA CHAPTER! 'Essential reading' Guardian 'A joyful read' Sunday Times 'Disarmingly honest' Daily Mirror 'Bravely revealing' Bernardine Evaristo 'Filled with relatable insights' Daily Mail 'Funny, moving, helpful and true' Sathnam Sanghera 'A generous guide to a part of life every bit as crucial as romance' Observer As a society, there is a tendency to elevate romantic love. But what about friendships? Aren't they just as - if not more - important? So why is it hard to find the right words to express what these uniquely complex bonds mean to us? In this fascinating, insightful and uniquely moving book, Elizabeth Day embarks on a journey to find out. Friendaholic unpacks the significance and evolution of friendship from the ancient wisdom of Cicero to the modern curse of ghosting. How and why do we make friends? Is friendship an antidote to loneliness? How should we deal with a frenemy? And is it ok to end a friendship that has gone awry? Friendaholic examines what makes a 'good' friend and asks us what kind of friend we want to be - to each other but also to ourselves.

Beatrice Kizza, a woman in flight from a homeland that condemned her for daring to love, flees to London. There, she shields her sorrow from the indifference of her adopted city, and navigates a night-time world of shift-work and bedsits. Howard Pink is a self-made millionaire who has risen from Petticoat Lane to the mansions of Kensington on a tide of determination and bluster. Yet self-doubt still snaps at his heels and his life is shadowed by the terrible loss that has shaken him to his foundations. Carol Hetherington, recently widowed, is living the quiet life in Wandsworth with her cat and The Jeremy Kyle Show for company. As she tries to come to terms with the absence her husband has left on the other side of the bed, she frets over her daughter's prospects and wonders if she'll ever be happy again. Esme Reade is a young journalist learning to muck-rake and doorstep in pursuit of the elusive scoop, even as she longs to find some greater meaning and leave her imprint on the world. Four strangers, each inhabitants of the same city, where the gulf between those who have too much and those who will never have enough is impossibly vast. But when the glass that separates Howard's and Beatrice's worlds is shattered by an inexcusable act, they discover that the capital has connected them in ways they could never have imagined.

Charles Redfern is in a coma. As he lies motionless in hospital, his wife Anne and daughter Charlotte are forced to come together to confront their relationships with him - and with each other. Anne, once regarded as beautiful and clever, has felt herself disappearing for years, paling beside her husband's harsh brilliance. Anxious to fit in with the expectations of the people around her, she keeps her disillusionment buried inside, mechanically attending the endless round of drinks parties and dinners in her keenly social neighbourhood, and trying to ignore the guilt that trails behind her like a shadow. Charlotte, battling an inner darkness that threatens to overwhelm her, is desperate to prevent her relationship with not-yet-divorced Gabriel from disintegrating through her own self-sabotage. As the full truth of Charles's hold over them emerges into the light, both women must come to terms with the choices they have made, and the uncertainty of a future without the figure that has dominated them for so long. Elizabeth Day's debut novel speaks beautifully and frankly about the banal horror of fractured relationships and the uncomfortable truths behind smiling family photographs. Poetic, absorbing and deeply moving, Scissors, Paper, Stone is a story of damage, survival and restoration, and of the powerful ties that bind us together.

When Marisa meets Jake, her life seems perfect until their new lodger, Kate, arrives. Something feels off about Kate—her gaze at Jake, her toothbrush next to theirs, and her incessant questions about the baby they are trying for. Marisa starts to doubt her instincts, especially as Jake reassures her that it’s all in her head. Yet, she senses something is deeply wrong and is determined to uncover the truth, even if it means risking everything. This psychological thriller is praised for its elegance and tension, drawing readers into a thick atmosphere of dread. Critics describe it as utterly engrossing and impossible to put down, with a compelling narrative that twists and turns. The writing is sharp and sinister, creating a pulse-quickening tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. With a compassionately crafted story, it delivers a sleight-of-hand twist that leaves a lasting impression. The book has garnered acclaim from various authors and publications, marking it as a standout in the genre and a must-read for fans of psychological drama. Prepare for a gripping experience that will have you turning pages at a rapid pace.

As the train pressed on, I realised that my life was in the process of taking a different direction, plotted according to a new constellation. Because, although I didn't know it yet, I was about to meet Ben and nothing would ever be the same again.' Martin Gilmour is an outsider. When he wins a scholarship to Burtonbury School, he doesn't wear the right clothes or speak with the right kind of accent. But then he meets the dazzling, popular and wealthy Ben Fitzmaurice, and gains admission to an exclusive world. Soon Martin is enjoying tennis parties and Easter egg hunts at the Fitzmaurice family's estate, as Ben becomes the brother he never had. But Martin has a secret. He knows something about Ben, something he will never tell. It is a secret that will bind the two of them together for the best part of 25 years. At Ben's 40th birthday party, the great and the good of British society are gathering to celebrate in a haze of champagne, drugs and glamour. Amid the hundreds of guests - the politicians, the celebrities, the old-money and newly rich - Martin once again feels that disturbing pang of not-quite belonging. His wife, Lucy, has her reservations too. There is disquiet in the air. But Ben wouldn't do anything to damage their friendship. Would he?

Chemist Elizabeth Zott stands out in the male-dominated world of the early 1960s, where her colleagues at Hastings Research Institute hold outdated views on equality. Her life takes a turn when she meets Calvin Evans, a brilliant but lonely scientist who appreciates her intellect. Their chemistry leads to unexpected changes, and soon Elizabeth finds herself a single mother and the star of a popular cooking show, Supper at Six. Her unconventional cooking methods, merging science with culinary art, inspire many, but also draw criticism. Elizabeth is not just teaching recipes; she is empowering women to challenge societal norms. This story features Elizabeth as an iconic feminist heroine who values her child's individuality and refuses to be constrained by societal expectations. The narrative is engaging and thought-provoking, showcasing Elizabeth's journey against the odds. The book has garnered widespread acclaim, becoming a bestseller and winning multiple awards, including the Goodreads Choice Best Debut Novel Award. It has been recognized by various publications as a top book of the year and is set to be adapted into an Apple TV series starring Brie Larson.

Elizabeth Day, auteur van <i>Het feest</i>, schreef met <i>Schaduwstad</i> eveneens een vlijmscherpe roman over de Britse elite. Howard Pink is een selfmade miljonair die zijn leven koopt en gewend is aan macht en geld. Maar achter dit flinterdunne masker schuilt een man die gebukt gaat onder de verdwijning van zijn dochter jaren geleden. Wanneer hij een onvergeeflijke daad begaat, raken de levens van hem, zijn jonge slachtoffer, een ambitieuze journaliste en een oudere dame voor altijd met elkaar verstrengeld op een manier die geen van allen ooit had kunnen vermoeden. Net als in <i>Het feest</i> heeft Elizabeth Day met <i>Schaduwstad</i> een plotgedreven roman geschreven over de kloof tussen de Britse klassen, tussen rijk en arm, tussen hen voor wie deuren zich openen en anderen die met moeite overleven. Met haarscherpe pen zet ze haar personages neer en snijdt ze ongemakkelijke thema’s aan: een onvergetelijke roman voor iedereen die genoten heeft van <i>Het feest</i>!