Shortlisted for the Saltire Society’s Scottish First Book of the Year Award 2023

‘A rebellious and uplifting tale of punkish, middle-aged, feminist defiance’ Lucy Ribchester

‘A delicious tale of female rebellion and a glorious tribute to female friendship. Warm, funny, and uplifting’ Caron McKinlay

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Amy, Carole, Lenore and Susan have been best friends since school. Back then they couldn’t wait for the future, for the amazing lives they’d have.

But things haven’t worked out how they expected. Now in their forties, they’re fed up with being taken for granted by their families, being passed over for promotions at work and being told that they’re past their best. And they’re not going to go quietly anymore.

Fuelled by female rage and their charismatic leader Amy, the four embark on a campaign of graffiti in their hometown of Hamilton, scrawling feminist slogans on the walls of local buildings.

But is Hamilton ready for the feminist revolution the Graffiti Girls have in store?

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Praise for Graffiti Girls:

‘Graffiti Girls is a sharply observed and thought-provoking cri de coeur about everyday sexism. It is the uplifting story of a group of women re-setting their lives and re-discovering their purpose during mid-life crises extraordinaire – a tale told with passion and verve’ Catherine Simpson, author of One Body

‘A fiery, funny and fierce feminist read that packs an emotional punch, Graffiti Girls explores big themes with empathy, insight and grace. I miss spending time with these characters’ Emma Styles,author of No Country for Girls

‘Stingingly observed, expertly executed, Graffiti Girls is a laugh-out-loud, relatably painful, feminist rage-induced tour de force’ Claire Wilson, author of Five by Five

‘Graffiti Girls drips with feminine rage, a story for any woman of a certain age who’s ever felt invisible.’ My Weekly, Books to Read in 2025

Wendy is lonely but coping.
All nineteen-year-old Wendy wants is to drive the 255 bus around Uddingston with her regulars on board, remember to buy milk when it runs out and just to be okay. After her mum died, there’s nobody to remind her to eat and what to do each day.

And Wendy is ready to step out of her comfort zone.
Each week she shows her social worker the progress she’s made, like the coasters she bought to spruce up the place, even if she forgets to make tea. And she even joins a writers’ group to share the stories she writes, like the one about a bullied boy who goes to Mars.

But everything changes when Wendy meets Ginger.
A teenager with flaming orange hair, Ginger’s so brave she’s wearing a coat that isn’t even waterproof. For the first time, Wendy has a real best friend. But as they begin the summer of their lives, Wendy wonders if things were simpler before. And that’s before she realizes just how much trouble Ginger is about to get them in?

An unforgettable debut novel from the winner of the Primadonna Prize 2019 which will stay with you long after the last page.

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Your favourite authors love Elissa Soave

‘Vivid, funny, sad, thought-provoking, acutely observed and full of compassion’ Helen Sedgwick

‘A debut novel to treasure, by turns funny, dark and heartbreaking and I didn’t want it to end!’ Louise Mumford

‘A fascinating and poignant take on friendship and obsession’ Caron McKinlay

‘Startling, sly and full of suspense. Not your ordinary coming of age novel’ Catherine Mayer

‘Full of charm, insight and wit – with the power to break your heart’ C. E. Riley