"Centred on the transformation of a forty-something woman, this also unpacks archaic attitudes to women who choose not to have children, and workplace ageism."
Slow-burn transformations, reconnections, and coming to reconfigure one’s life lie at the heart of Esther Walker’s Well, This is Awkward — a female-centred story of early-midlife malaise and the magic of unexpected change.
Having sold her independent influencer talent agency to a bigger player, Mairéad feels pretty powerless. Though she still heads the agency, Mairéad is now subject to interference from the parent company, and feels like she’s losing grip on her “holistic, caring” vision. She “wanted to help creative people”, not churn out “identikit influencers who all said and did and wore the same thing”. If that wasn’t enough, she’s subjected to sniping ageist comments from younger colleagues, and has sworn off dating apps that have a habit of mis-matching her with totally unsuitable men.
Into this, Mairéad’s sense of feeling adrift deepens when she’s compelled to take care of her eleven-year-old niece, Sunshine. Grubby, smelly, riddled with worms, and socially awkward, Sunshine presents Mairéad with a fair few challenges. But, in time, through undulating twists and turns, Mairéad starts to reassess her life and priorities.
With a great cast of supporting characters providing literal support in the form of sisterly solidarity, Well, This is Awkward comes recommended for readers who are looking to drift off into an easy-to-read novel rooted in recognisable real-life scenarios, and those who enjoy feel-good stories of domestic transformations that radiate sunshiny joy,
| Primary Genre | General Fiction |
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