First published 2024
Maddie Wright sits at her computer, typing another anxious Google search about whether back pain is normal in your twenties. She dreams of buying a bright yellow suit and dating men her traditional mother would disapprove of. She fantasizes about finally confronting her difficult boss. But Maddie carries the weight of being a young carer while navigating the ordinary disasters of modern adulthood. She searches online for guidance on first date conversation and wonders if crying at work marks her as unprofessional. Her father never says he loves her, and she cannot figure out why. Maddie wants to stop second guessing every choice she makes, but the world keeps throwing obstacles in her path. Her journey becomes one of learning to trust herself despite the heartbreak and uncertainty that comes with growing up and breaking free from expectations.
Genres: literary-fiction, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, self-discovery
Setting: Africa
Period: 21st-century
400 pages · Paperback · Hodder & Stoughton
Content warnings: anxiety, depression, mental-illness