"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 | Family Drama |
| Other Genres: |
'I adored this lovely debut about an off-grid child and her sophisticated urban aunt' Wendy Holden, Daily Mail
'Warm and funny, what a joy!' Jessica Stanley, author of Consider Yourself Kissed
'Sharp and funny and full of quirk and heart' Francesca Segal
'Superb. Brilliant. I adored it... Esther Walker is smart and so funny' Georgia Toffolo
'It's a page-turner' Spectator
Mairéad is single, child-free and head of a successful influencer talent agency. The young people at work may be mean to her, she hasn't seen her only sister for nine years and she's one bad date away from giving up on men completely - but other than that, she's got life sorted.
Until Sunshine shows up. When her militant, off-grid sister has a mysterious accident, Mairéad's inscrutable niece comes to stay, turning life upside down. It's just for a couple of weeks - surely Mairéad can manage that?
But Sunshine makes her look at every single aspect of her life with different eyes. And Mairéad's afraid nothing will be the same again.
'Walker offers smart, peppy humour and good comic characters who power her tale along with brio' The Times
Well, This Is Awkward features in the following genres: Family Drama, General Fiction, Modern and Contemporary Fiction, Narrative theme: Love and relationships, Contemporary lifestyle fiction, Fiction, Modern and Contemporary Fiction, Satirical style / satire
Well, This Is Awkward is available in Paperback, Hardback
Well, This Is Awkward was written by Esther Walker and published by Bedford Square Publishers
Well, This Is Awkward has 336 pages
£8.99
