Haywood, Sarah - The Cactus

A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK
'I found myself laughing out loud at Susan's prickly character' Reese Witherspoon

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER SHORTLISTED FOR THE BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD A RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK

People aren't sure what to make of Susan Green. Family and colleagues find her prickly and hard to understand - but Susan makes perfect sense to herself. Age 45, she thinks her life is perfect. She has a London flat which is ideal for one; a steady job that suits her passion for logic; and a personal arrangement providing cultural and other, more intimate, benefits.

Yet suddenly faced with the loss of her mother and, implausibly, with the possibility of becoming a mother herself, Susan's greatest fear is being realised: she is losing control. And things can only get worse ... at least in Susan's eyes.

This sparkling debut is a breath of fresh air with real heart and a powerful emotional punch. In Susan we find a character as exasperating and delightful as The Rosie Project's Don Tillman. An uncompromising feminist and a fierce fighter, it's a joy to watch her bloom.

'Quirky, poignant and extremely readable' Sunday Mirror
'Brilliantly comic' The Lady
'Wonderfully funny and astute' Red
'Funny, compelling, well-written...for fans of Marian Keyes who demand a bit of grit in their comic writing' Emerald Street