"An amusing, poignant, gorgeous story set in 1980, Lizzie starts a new job, moves into a her own flat, and finds a boyfriend."
Comedy Women in Print Prize 2020 Winner
A smirky, fabulously quirky, poignant novel and an absolute joy to read. It is 1980, Lizzie is 18, she starts a new job working for a dentist, moves into her own flat, and thinks she may have got herself a boyfriend (but isn’t entirely sure). Lizzie is a total delight, her courage, spirit and pithy observations mix into a heady cocktail alongside her apprehension and doubt.
The other characters are beautifully realised in their own right, every utterance perfectly placed, it is difficult to pick just one out as when I called them forward in my mind, they clambered over each in a riot of energy. Nina Stibbe excels in the small, in fact the incy wincy details that are so beautifully observed you didn’t know they were missing until you read them, and could see and feel the entire picture.
The understanding of human frailty and poignancy of human absurdity is so wonderfully explored. There is something compelling about the writing that lodged in my mind, and took up residence in my heart. I snorted (yes actually snorted) out loud with laughter and while heartache and break is never far away, thoroughly loved every word of Reasons To Be Cheerful, it’s just gorgeous!
'When people in the village heard I was about to start working in the city they tried to unsettle me with tales of woe. The sun, blotted out by the tall buildings, couldn't shine and the rain was poisoned by the toxic fumes that poured from the sock factories. My skin would be covered in pimples from the hell of it all'
| Primary Genre | Humorous Fiction |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
'When people in the village heard I was about to start working in the city they tried to unsettle me with tales of woe. The sun, blotted out by the tall buildings, couldn't shine and the rain was poisoned by the toxic fumes that poured from the sock factories.
Reasons to be Cheerful features in the following genres: Humorous Fiction, Family Drama, Liz Robinson's Picks of the Month, Modern and Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Recommendations, General Fiction, Romance / Relationship Stories
Paperback, Hardback. £8.99, down from the £9.99 cover price. In Stock.
Reasons to be Cheerful was written by Nina Stibbe and published by Penguin Books Ltd
Reasons to be Cheerful has 275 pages
Yes it is part of The Lizzie Vogel Series series
£8.99, reduced from £9.99. In Stock.
