Growing Up for Beginners

'A beautiful book, so compassionate... and ultimately very hopeful. I enjoyed it hugely.’Marian Keyes

‘A clever, bittersweet, uplifting novel’ Sophie Kinsella

'Writing with proper heart' Rachel Joyce

It’s not easy being a grown-up, but at 47, Eleanor hoped she’d be better at it by now...

When Eleanor waves her daughter off for a gap-year trip, she finds herself stuck as a satellite wife, spinning in faithful orbit around her domineering husband, with only her clever but judgmental father Conrad for comfort.

Andrew isn’t mastering the art of growing up either. But when he finds his belongings dumped in bin bags on the drive, even he can see that his girlfriend is hinting he should move out. With no other options, he moves back in with his parents.

Backing onto their garden lives artist Cecilia, living in chaotic clutter and dreaming of her ex-lovers, still acting like a stroppy teenager at the age of 66.

Four lives are drawn together by long-buried secrets of the past, and it is time for them all to grow up... before it’s too late.