One: She has a half-brother she knew nothing about.

Nancy’s world is punched inside out at the discovery of a mysterious new sibling. But she can’t help but feel curious about Oliver, this stranger who shares her DNA. Her sister Rita, on the other hand, is furious and wants nothing to do with their ‘cuckoo’ brother.

Two: She’s pregnant.

The father – Nancy’s not-quite-boyfriend from her not-quite-relationship – doesn’t want to commit any time soon. He isn’t even in the same continent as her right now. And with her mother and sister in shock about Oliver, Nancy’s struggling to find someone to turn to for support.

In a tumult of grief, fear and hope, Nancy pushes herself into an uncertain future as she rethinks what really makes a family. But there’s one more thought in the back of her head?

Is there space in her family for two more?

_____________________________

After Nancy’s father dies, she is faced with two life-changing revelations.

One: She has a half-brother she knew nothing about.

Nancy’s world is punched inside out at the discovery of a mysterious new sibling. But she can’t help but feel curious about Oliver, this stranger who shares her DNA. Her sister Rita, on the other hand, is furious and wants nothing to do with their ‘cuckoo’ brother.

Two: She’s pregnant.

The father – Nancy’s not-quite-boyfriend from her not-quite-relationship – doesn’t want to commit any time soon. He isn’t even in the same continent as her right now. And with her mother and sister in shock about Oliver, Nancy’s struggling to find someone to turn to for support.

In a tumult of grief, fear and hope, Nancy pushes herself into an uncertain future as she rethinks what really makes a family. But there’s one more thought in the back of her head?

Is there space in her family for two more?

__________________________

Readers LOVE Cuckoo:

‘I read the whole book in one day because it just hooked me from the first moment’
‘A fantastic exploration of relationships, heartbreak, secrets, and much more’
‘There are a lot of strong women in this book . . . I enjoyed pretty much all of [it]’

‘Exhilarating, infuriating, urgent and human’ Daisy Buchanan

‘A blazing, brilliant read … compassionate, convincing, funny!‘ Amy Liptrot

‘Honest, unflinching and necessary’ Sara Pascoe

‘Funny and brisk … urgent and incisive‘ Rob Delaney

‘A timely and important book‘ Clover Stroud

It’s time to share the motherload.

A memoir culminating in a manifesto, Holding the Baby sets out to understand why we still treat early parenthood as an individual slog rather than a shared cultural responsibility. Tracing her own journey to the nadir of sleeplessness via social retreat and murderous rage, Frizzell draws on the latest research to explore:

– What effect does parenting have on your career?

– How can we make childcare affordable and fit for purpose?

– If parenting is so hard, why does anyone ever do it more than once?

Funny, reassuring and radically ambitious, Holding the Baby sheds light on the ways in which we fail new parents, and offers a rallying crying that we fight for a better alternative.

——————-
Everyone is moving on… and then, there’s Hanna

By thirty, Hanna expected to have it all (or at least some of it)

· A fulfilling and successful career

· A healthy, long-term relationship, maybe even an engagement ring

· A house (or at least a flat) of her own

But in reality, she’s back at square one…

· Single after breaking up with someone she’s not sure ever loved her

· Flooded with wedding invitations and pregnancy scan pictures from friends

· Unable to afford to live on her own and forced to move in with her father who is also single and dating

Everyone moves at different paces, but Hanna’s life is in reverse. With the pressure to keep up and her dad’s insufferable musings on Tinder, will she be able to figure out what she really wants?

‘Exhilarating, infuriating, urgent and human’ Daisy Buchanan

‘A blazing, brilliant read … compassionate, convincing, funny!‘ Amy Liptrot

‘Honest, unflinching and necessary’ Sara Pascoe

‘Funny and brisk … urgent and incisive‘ Rob Delaney

‘A timely and important book‘ Clover Stroud

It’s time to share the motherload.

A memoir culminating in a manifesto, Holding the Baby sets out to understand why we still treat early parenthood as an individual slog rather than a shared cultural responsibility. Tracing her own journey to the nadir of sleeplessness via social retreat and murderous rage, Frizzell draws on the latest research to explore:

– What effect does parenting have on your career?

– How can we make childcare affordable and fit for purpose?

– If parenting is so hard, why does anyone ever do it more than once?

Funny, reassuring and radically ambitious, Holding the Baby sheds light on the ways in which we fail new parents, and offers a rallying crying that we fight for a better alternative.

——————-
Everyone is moving on… and then, there’s Hanna

By thirty, Hanna expected to have it all (or at least some of it)

· A fulfilling and successful career

· A healthy, long-term relationship, maybe even an engagement ring

· A house (or at least a flat) of her own

But in reality, she’s back at square one…

· Single after breaking up with someone she’s not sure ever loved her

· Flooded with wedding invitations and pregnancy scan pictures from friends

· Unable to afford to live on her own and forced to move in with her father who is also single and dating

Everyone moves at different paces, but Hanna’s life is in reverse. With the pressure to keep up and her dad’s insufferable musings on Tinder, will she be able to figure out what she really wants?

——————————

Every woman will experience the panic years in some way between her mid-twenties and early-forties.

This maddening period of transformation and personal crisis is recognisable by the myriad of decisions we make – about partners, holidays, jobs, homes, savings, friendships – all of which are impacted by the urgency of the single decision that comes with a biological deadline, the one decision that is impossible to take back; whether or not to have a baby.

But how to stay sane in such a maddening time? How to know who you are and what you might want from life? How to know if you’re making the right decisions?

Raw, hilarious and beguilingly honest, Nell Frizzell’s account of her panic years is both an arm around the shoulder and a campaign to start a conversation. This affects us all – women, men, mothers, children, partners, friends, colleagues – so it’s time we started talking about it with a little more candour.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

– ‘Loved this book! Highly recommend for any woman (or man!) during the weird time in your 20s’ *****
– ‘Those panicky feelings of being a 24-30 something put into words’ *****
– ‘This book brings forth a sigh of relief. Excellent book that really taps into what so many of us are thinking and feeling, but not saying’ *****

Every woman will experience the panic years in some way between her mid-twenties and early-forties. This maddening period of transformation and personal crisis is recognisable by the myriad of decisions we make – about partners, holidays, jobs, homes, savings, friendships – all of which are impacted by the urgency of the single decision that comes with a biological deadline, the one decision that is impossible to take back; whether or not to have a baby.

But how to stay sane in such a maddening time? How to know who you are and what you might want from life? How to know if you’re making the right decisions?

Raw, hilarious and beguilingly honest, Nell Frizzell’s account of her panic years is both an arm around the shoulder and a campaign to start a conversation. This affects us all – women, men, mothers, children, partners, friends, colleagues – so it’s time we started talking about it with a little more candour.

‘Vital reading. Nell Frizzell is a master.’ Rob Delaney, co-writer and co-star of Catastrophe
‘Smart and perceptive…a must read for 2021’ Stylist
‘Wonderful… touching, helpful and enlightening’ Sara Pascoe