Promotional Information

Sophisticated new reissue of the bestseller's emotional, intriguing novel about a quest to uncover a sister's past.

About the Author

Lisa Jewell is the Sunday Times bestselling author of sixteen books, including her most recent novel, the Sunday Times bestseller Watching You. She lives in London with her husband and two children.

Reviews

Sophisticated . . . Jewell can't help but tell a compelling story packed with intriguing characters
*The Times*

Tackles serious issues with humour - proving that chick-lit can be intelligent, interesting and huge fun
*Sunday Express*

Written with intelligence, verve and wit . . . a triumph
*Hello*

Inventive and moving . . . a story with definite charms and a real sense of poignancy
*Sunday Times*

Top marks. Fantastic
*Heat*

A perceptive, tears-trickling-down-the-side-of-your-nose-on-the-bus brilliant read
*Company*

Moving and intelligent
*Independent*

A poignant tale of life, love and loss
*Mirror*

Traditional, light-hearted romantic fiction at its best
*Literary Review*

Poignant and humorous
*Now*

A buoyant tale that will have you laughing and crying from start to finish
*Woman's Journal*

The twists and turns in the plot will leave you dizzy
*New Woman*

The story is original and the suspense is skilfully built. An infuriatingly enjoyable feel-good read
*The List*

An engaging and original plot
*New Statesman*

Tall and gangly Ana Wills has never felt comfortable in her own skin and has spent years dreaming of her beautiful older half-sister Bee's glamorous life. Bee, who had a falling out with their overbearing and neurotic mother, Gay, left over a decade ago and never looked back. She eventually made it big on the music scene as an '80s rock star, with a knockout number 1 song. When Bee dies in mysterious fashion perhaps by her own hand at the age of 36, Ana is forced to leave the quiet and predictable town of Devon and travel to London to collect Bea's effects. In Bee's huge but surprisingly run-down flat, Ana is consumed by the clues she discovers about Bee's longtime depression and angry with herself for not making more of an effort to stay in touch. Bee's best friends black singer and exotic dresser Lolita Tate and Flint Lennard, Bee's erstwhile chauffeur are anxious to help Ana discover the details of her sister's existence. Lol and Ana click immediately, and Ana can't help being attracted to the enigmatic and hulking hunk, Flint. The three soon learn that Bee was leading a double life, one that included a disabled adolescent boy and a secret place for their rendezvous. Devastated, Ana finally stands up to Gay, who believes that Bee led a charmed life. "She had looks, Mum. She had money. She had absolutely nothing else. Take it from me. I've seen her life." Hints throughout suggest that Ana, too, has musical talent; it is that talent, despite the pain of loosing Bee, that will be her instrument of self-discovery. Jewell, author of Ralph's Party and thirtynothing, sounds a series of secrets and gradual revelations that keep the narrative at high pitch and bring it to a satisfying conclusion. Agent, Judith Murdoch. (June) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Sophisticated . . . Jewell can't help but tell a compelling story packed with intriguing characters * The Times *
Tackles serious issues with humour - proving that chick-lit can be intelligent, interesting and huge fun * Sunday Express *
Written with intelligence, verve and wit . . . a triumph * Hello *
Inventive and moving . . . a story with definite charms and a real sense of poignancy * Sunday Times *
Top marks. Fantastic * Heat *
A perceptive, tears-trickling-down-the-side-of-your-nose-on-the-bus brilliant read * Company *
Moving and intelligent * Independent *
A poignant tale of life, love and loss * Mirror *
Traditional, light-hearted romantic fiction at its best * Literary Review *
Poignant and humorous * Now *
A buoyant tale that will have you laughing and crying from start to finish * Woman's Journal *
The twists and turns in the plot will leave you dizzy * New Woman *
The story is original and the suspense is skilfully built. An infuriatingly enjoyable feel-good read * The List *
An engaging and original plot * New Statesman *