Francesca Hornak - Author
Francesca Hornak is a journalist and writer, whose work has appeared in newspapers and magazines including The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Marie Claire, Red, Grazia and Stylist. Her column History of the World in 100 Modern Objects first appeared in The Sunday Times Style Magazine in 2013, and ran for 2 years. She lives in Islington, London and is currently working on her next book Worry with Mother.
Longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize 2018 For fans of David Nicholls and Richard Curtis movies, this is an observational, tender and heart-warming drama about the trials and tribulations of spending a week with your family at Christmas. What a beautiful, perceptive, absorbing read this is. Family drama… yes, yet it’s more. Relationship tale… yes, yet it’s much more. Incredibly readable… oh yes yes yes! The Birch family are due to spend the seven days over Christmas at their holiday home in Norfolk in strict quarantine, as doctor Olivia has been in Liberia treating a serious epidemic. The prologue and first chapter take hold of this family, and toss their lives sky-high, I was well and truly hooked, and found myself reluctant to put the book down, even for a second. Francesca Hornak writes with empathy yet she cuts through to the heart of things, creating a believable, relatable, touchable family. As events spiralled out of control, yet in ever decreasing circles, and relationships unravelled, I wondered where on earth we were all going to end up. The ending is as satisfying and emotionally enthralling as the journey to reach it. ‘Seven Days of Us’ is a terrific read, I savoured every word, and I can’t wait to see what Francesca Hornak offers next. ~ Liz Robinson
Beautifully illustrated by renowned cartoonist Dorrance, this book is a welcome slice of light relief from all the fretting mums are expected to do these days. Francesca Hornak has taken a light-hearted, humorous look at the concerns and worries of the modern mother. You know, those kind of thoughts that just pop in to your head (usually at 3 in the morning whilst trying to grab a few precious moments sleep) and make you feel ever so slightly crazy. Well fear not as there is an anecdote for everyone within the pages of this book. Relax in the knowledge that your craziness is most definitely shared and enjoy a giggle as you consider everything from the ludicrously long list of hospital bag labour ‘essentials’ to late night stakeouts awaiting the return of teens. Not only will this make you smile (and possibly occasionally grimace) but it will also help bring a little perspective to those moments when you feel like the worst parent ever. A wonderful gift for all mothers old or new, expectant or even for the just plain exhausted.
From her Sunday Times column Francesca Hornak has taken 100 columns highlighting iconic objects that any middle-class person would see as essential such as a Farrow and Ball sample pots to a Smeg fridge. There are some oddities along the way – ukuleles and dreamcatchers for two and if you read it from beginning to end it becomes a rather sad story of anxious folk on the wrong side of the work/life balance struggling to buy all their “stuff”. But - if you note the subtitle then we're all in on Francesca Hornak's joke, a very funny dig at modern life. ~ Sue Baker Like for Like Reading Word on the Street: Ridiculous Things We've Overheard in London , Time Out Editors Middle Class Problems: Problems but not Actual Problems, Just Middle Class Ones , Benjamin Lee
'One of the best books of the year' Hello! The joyful, sharply observed and life-affirming Christmas story for fans of One Day. Also a Radio 2 Bookclub pick. It's Christmas and for one whole week the Birch family is gathering under one roof. Olivia, the eldest daughter, has returned from treating an epidemic abroad and must go into quarantine for seven days. Her mother says it's the perfect opportunity to spend some 'special time' together. Her younger sister wholeheartedly disagrees. Her father isn't allowed an opinion - but is determined to offer one anyway. When no one can leave the house, and no one can enter, seven days for the Birches feels like an eternity. Especially when they're all harbouring secrets. One of whom is about to come knocking at their door... 'LOVED it! Warm and humane, funny and sad, with a great, twisty plot, Seven Days of Us is absolute pleasure reading from beginning to end. Francesca Hornak is a true talent. Just gorgeous!' Marian Keyes 'I loved this comic drama . . . the plot is genius . . . and the results are hilarious and touching' Daily Mail 'Sharply observed by Hornak's satirical eye, this has Working Title film deal written all over it' Glamour 'Francesca Hornak is hilariously funny with characters that jump off the page, grab you, and just won't let go' Rosamund Lupton, bestselling author of Sister 'Expertly captures the joys and the tensions of spending any time with those who know you best. It thoroughly deserves to be this year's big Christmas hit' The i 'Absorbing, insightful and immensely enjoyable' Laura Barnett, bestselling author of The Versions of Us 'Compassionate, witty and wise' Saskia Sarginson, bestselling author of The Twins 'I LOVED Seven Days of Us. The story swallowed me up. It has all the makings of your classic rom-com, with characters that are both remarkable yet wonderfully relatable, thanks to Francesca Hornak's acutely observational storytelling. The family tension is all too real. Brilliant!' The Unmumsy Mum 'Gripping, powerfully emotional and life-affirming. I read it in one sitting!' Maeve Haran, bestselling author of Having it All 'Touching, funny, emotionally intelligent, Seven Days of Us is pure pleasure from beginning to end. It's stylishly written and totally engrossing. I really, really loved it' Adele Geras 'It's a cliche to say this book is a rollercoaster but the sun came up and the sun went down, people cried for help, and the bath overflowed, and I couldn't move, captivated by this extraordinary page-turner. The plot is compulsive and doesn't let up till the very last chapter. It has more twists and turns than Hampton Court Maze and yet Francesca Hornak guides one through it all with a confident hand until one puts it down, exhausted but exhilarated by such a rollicking good read. Terrific'Virginia Ironside 'An engrossing and funny study of a middle-class British family in crisis. I loved it!' Keith Stuart, bestselling author of A Boy Made of Blocks 'Witty and deeply heartfelt' Bestselling author Emily Griffin 'Hornak's wry, masterful portrayal of a family in crisis is filled with flawed and funny characters who will capture - and break - your heart' Fiona Davis, bestselling author of The Dollhouse 'Hornak's first novel is a farcical gem, perfect for fans of Matthew Norman and Emma Straub. Alternately tender and razor-sharp, Seven Days of Us will resonate with anyone who regresses the minute they step inside their childhood home' Booklist starred review
Longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize 2018 For fans of David Nicholls and Richard Curtis movies, this is an observational, tender and heart-warming drama about the trials and tribulations of spending a week with your family at Christmas. What a beautiful, perceptive, absorbing read this is. Family drama… yes, yet it’s more. Relationship tale… yes, yet it’s much more. Incredibly readable… oh yes yes yes! The Birch family are due to spend the seven days over Christmas at their holiday home in Norfolk in strict quarantine, as doctor Olivia has been in Liberia treating a serious epidemic. The prologue and first chapter take hold of this family, and toss their lives sky-high, I was well and truly hooked, and found myself reluctant to put the book down, even for a second. Francesca Hornak writes with empathy yet she cuts through to the heart of things, creating a believable, relatable, touchable family. As events spiralled out of control, yet in ever decreasing circles, and relationships unravelled, I wondered where on earth we were all going to end up. The ending is as satisfying and emotionally enthralling as the journey to reach it. ‘Seven Days of Us’ is a terrific read, I savoured every word, and I can’t wait to see what Francesca Hornak offers next. ~ Liz Robinson
A family can't escape their secrets when they're forced to spend a week in quarantine in this ';sharply funny' (People) novelan Indie Next and #1 Library Reads Pick! ';Witty and deeply heartfelt.'Emily Giffin It's Christmas, and for the first time in years the entire Birch family will be under one roof. Even Emma and Andrew's elder daughterwho is usually off saving the worldwill be joining them at Weyfield Hall, their aging country estate. But Olivia, a doctor, is only coming home because she has to. Having just returned from treating an epidemic abroad, she's been told she must stay in quarantine for a weekand so too should her family. For the next seven days, the Birches are locked down, cut off from the rest of humanityand even decent Wi-Fiand forced into each other's orbits. Younger, unabashedly frivolous daughter Phoebe is fixated on her upcoming wedding, while Olivia deals with the culture shock of being immersed in first-world problems. As Andrew sequesters himself in his study writing scathing restaurant reviews and remembering his glory days as a war correspondent, Emma hides a secret that will turn the whole family upside down. In close proximity, not much can stay hidden for long, and as revelations and long-held tensions come to light, nothing is more shocking than the unexpected guest who's about to arrive...theSkimm Reads Pick New York PostRequired Reading One of Elite Daily's Books to Read This Fall Liz & Lisa's Best Books of October Brit + Co's Best of October Roundup One of BookRiot's October Must-Reads
Beautifully illustrated by renowned cartoonist Dorrance, this book is a welcome slice of light relief from all the fretting mums are expected to do these days. Francesca Hornak has taken a light-hearted, humorous look at the concerns and worries of the modern mother. You know, those kind of thoughts that just pop in to your head (usually at 3 in the morning whilst trying to grab a few precious moments sleep) and make you feel ever so slightly crazy. Well fear not as there is an anecdote for everyone within the pages of this book. Relax in the knowledge that your craziness is most definitely shared and enjoy a giggle as you consider everything from the ludicrously long list of hospital bag labour ‘essentials’ to late night stakeouts awaiting the return of teens. Not only will this make you smile (and possibly occasionally grimace) but it will also help bring a little perspective to those moments when you feel like the worst parent ever. A wonderful gift for all mothers old or new, expectant or even for the just plain exhausted.
From her Sunday Times column Francesca Hornak has taken 100 columns highlighting iconic objects that any middle-class person would see as essential such as a Farrow and Ball sample pots to a Smeg fridge. There are some oddities along the way – ukuleles and dreamcatchers for two and if you read it from beginning to end it becomes a rather sad story of anxious folk on the wrong side of the work/life balance struggling to buy all their “stuff”. But - if you note the subtitle then we're all in on Francesca Hornak's joke, a very funny dig at modern life. ~ Sue Baker Like for Like Reading Word on the Street: Ridiculous Things We've Overheard in London , Time Out Editors Middle Class Problems: Problems but not Actual Problems, Just Middle Class Ones , Benjamin Lee
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