Author:Anna Maxted
'To say that Babs is my closest friend is rather like saying that Einstein was good at sums. And if you've ever had a best friend, you'll know what I mean. Babs and I had such a beautiful relationship, no man could better it. And then she met Simon.'
Now Babs, noisy, funny Babs, is getting married. And Natalie, 27, is panicking. What happens when your best friend pledges everlasting love to someone else? As the confetti flutters, Nat feels her good-girl veneer crack. She teeters into an alluringly unsuitable affair that spins her crazily out of control and into trouble - with her boss, Matt, and with Babs.
Caught up in the thrill of bad behaviour, Nat blithely ignores the truth - about her new boyfriend, her best friend's marriage, her mother's cooking and the wisdom of inviting Bab's brother Andy - slippers and all - to be her lodger. But perhaps what Nat really needs to face is the mirror - and herself...
Funny and inspiring, you'll be turning the pages 'til the small hours
—— CompanyPowerful without being didactic, moving without being sentimental, riotously comic without being superficial. Accomplished, well-written chick lit
—— Daily ExpressWarmth, humanity, and a great dollop of sympathetic humour
—— Hello!The Assistants is fresh, smart and very funny - I absolutely loved it.
—— Lucy DiamondThe Assistants is a must-read for anyone who’s toiled away for an unappreciative boss . . . Sharp, sassy and lots of fun.
—— RedFunny and clever, this is the next Devil Wears Prada
—— Paige ToonAnyone who's earned less in a year than their boss spends on cabs will relate.
—— GlamourSure to be a massive hit
—— Media EyeIf the characters from HBO’s Girls were capable of larceny and blackmail, they could be the main characters of Perri’s sharp first novel . . . Perri has a gift for the glib one-liner, and reserved Tina and glamourous Emily make for a great pairing, resulting in a smart and fresh novel.
—— Publishers WeeklyBridget Jones is no mere fictional character, she's the Spirit of the Age
—— Evening StandardPages devoured: 216. Embarrassing laugh-out-loud moments on public transport: numerous. Overall thoughts on latest Bridget Jones book: V.v.v. gd. Helen Fielding reminds us once again that she’s the queen of encapsulating the female experience in all its messy, funny and emotional glory… Short, pacy and perfect.
—— Kate Whiting , UK Press SyndicationThere’s delight to be had in sharing her happy ending.
—— Deirdre O'Brien , Sunday MirrorWith a deft wit, Fielding lampoons 21st century life but amongst the humour there are some serious points about the way in which we judge ourselves and others…[Fielding] is certainly back to her witty best.
—— ScotsmanA gloriously funny, touching story of baby-deadline panic, maternal bliss, and every kind of chaos.
—— Gransnet, Book of the YearThe Bridget we were all clamouring to see.
—— Woman's WayMore than enough chuckles to keep you turning the page.
—— World of Cruising, Book of the YearFrank, refreshing...such a satisfying read
—— StylistEmma Straub is consistently excellent
—— Book RiotEmma Straub is quickly making a name for herself as an author who can deftly toe the line between literary and popular writing-her books are easy to breeze through, but there's also food for thought for the discerning reader
Praise for The Vacationers
—— -Now this is what I call good holiday reading. Straub writes beautifully and amusingly . . . hard to beat for sheer charm and gentle wit
—— Daily MailEmma Straub puts the fun back in dysfunction
—— San Francisco ChronicleThere's nothing more addictive than a darkly funny dysfunctional domestic drama. Straub's novel-set during a fraught family vacation in Mallorca-is pretty much the perfect beach read
—— Entertainment WeeklyCharming and absorbing, this is a novel that demands to be read in long, satisfying gulps
—— Maggie Shipstead, author of , Seating ArrangementsEmma Straub is a magician, full of brilliance and surprise
—— Lorrie Moore, author of , BarkA gorgeous and witty storyteller
—— Elizabeth Gilbert, author of , Eat, Pray LoveWitty and big-hearted . . . leaves you smiling for days
—— Maria Semple, author of , Where’d You Go, BernadetteFor those unable to jet off to a Spanish island this summer, reading The Vacationers may be the next-best thing. . . . [A] gorgeously written novel . . . When I turned the last page, I felt as I often do when a vacation is over: grateful for the trip and mourning its end
—— The New York Times Book ReviewDelicious . . . richly riveting . . . The Vacationers offers all the delights of a fluffy, read-it-with-sunglasses-on-the-beach read, made substantial by the exceptional wit, insight, intelligence and talents of its author
—— People (four stars)I loved The Vacationers; funny and poignant and beautifully observed
—— Jojo Moyes, author of , Me Before YouStraub's novel is cast from the same mould as the likes of Liza Klaussmann's Tigers in Red Weather and Maggie Shipstead's Seating Arrangements . . . The Vacationers is a holiday read in every way with a gently witty narrative that slips down as easily as a beachside cocktail
—— IndependentEmma Straub is a gorgeous and witty storyteller
—— Elizabeth GilbertIntimate, epic, beautifully observed
—— Jennifer EganWitty and big-hearted ... leaves you smiling for days
—— Maria SempleCharming and absorbing
—— Maggie ShipsteadFunny, poignant and beautifully observed
—— Jojo Moyes