Meg Mason Books

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION. Everyone tells Martha Friel she is clever and beautiful, a brilliant writer loved every day by her husband Patrick. Yet, as she approaches 40, Martha finds herself friendless, nearly jobless, and often sad. After Patrick leaves, she questions why everything feels broken in her life. Is it her sensitivity or a deeper issue stemming from a traumatic event at 17 that left her forever changed? Returning to her chaotic childhood home to live with her dysfunctional parents—without the support of her outspoken sister Ingrid—Martha confronts her past and seeks to understand if a life can be too broken to mend. This novel is a poignant exploration of resilience, humor, and the quest for self-discovery, filled with snappy one-liners and emotional depth. Critics have hailed it as unforgettable, brilliantly written, and a must-read for women, capturing the essence of laughter and heartbreak. An instant bestseller and a book of the year across multiple publications, it resonates with anyone seeking to rewrite their own narrative.

EVENING STANDARD'S 'BEST FICTION BOOKS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2022' What do you do, when you find the perfect family... ...and it's not yours? 'Rare and delightful . . . A beautifully crafted novel about female relationships. I couldn't put this book down' Marie Claire The only thing Abi ever wanted was a proper family. So when she falls pregnant by an Australian exchange student in London, she cannot pack up her old life in Croydon fast enough, to start all over in Sydney and make her own family. It is not until she arrives, with three-week-old Jude in tow, that Abi realises Stu is not quite ready to be a father after all. And he is the only person she knows in this hot, dazzling, confusing city, where the job of making friends is turning out to be harder than she thought. That is, until she meets Phyllida, her wealthy, charming, imperious older neighbour, and they become almost like mother and daughter. If only Abi had not told Phil that teeny tiny small lie, the very first day they met...

'Read the first sentence of Jacqueline Maley's debut novel, and you will be in it until the end. Electrifying, deeply unsettling and so, so satisfying. And, if you've ever tried to manage the sharp end of a career with the blunt demands of parenthood, fiercely recognisable' Meg Mason, author of Sorrow and Bliss