Imprint
- Hodder Paperbacks
- Hodder & Stoughton
- Hodder & Stoughton
- Hodder & Stoughton
Pretending: The brilliant adult novel from Holly Bourne. Why be yourself when you can be perfect?
Holly Bourne
Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945), Romance, Adult & contemporary romance, Sociology: family & relationships, Family & relationships, Dating, relationships, living together & marriage
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Imprint
Hodder Paperbacks
- Paperback Nov 30, 2021 | 9781473668171 | RRP $24.99 Buy Now
- Hardback Apr 14, 2020 | 9781473668133 | RRP $45.00 Buy Now
- e-Book Apr 2, 2020 | 9781473668157 | RRP $12.99 Buy Now
- Audiobook Apr 2, 2020 | 9781473668164 | RRP $35.99 Buy Now
Play Sample0:00 -
Imprint
Hodder & Stoughton
- Paperback Nov 30, 2021 | 9781473668171 | RRP $24.99 Buy Now
- Hardback Apr 14, 2020 | 9781473668133 | RRP $45.00 Buy Now
- e-Book Apr 2, 2020 | 9781473668157 | RRP $12.99 Buy Now
- Audiobook Apr 2, 2020 | 9781473668164 | RRP $35.99 Buy Now
Play Sample0:00 -
Imprint
Hodder & Stoughton
- Paperback Nov 30, 2021 | 9781473668171 | RRP $24.99 Buy Now
- Hardback Apr 14, 2020 | 9781473668133 | RRP $45.00 Buy Now
- e-Book Apr 2, 2020 | 9781473668157 | RRP $12.99 Buy Now
- Audiobook Apr 2, 2020 | 9781473668164 | RRP $35.99 Buy Now
Play Sample0:00 -
Imprint
Hodder & Stoughton
- Paperback Nov 30, 2021 | 9781473668171 | RRP $24.99 Buy Now
- Hardback Apr 14, 2020 | 9781473668133 | RRP $45.00 Buy Now
- e-Book Apr 2, 2020 | 9781473668157 | RRP $12.99 Buy Now
- Audiobook Apr 2, 2020 | 9781473668164 | RRP $35.99 Buy Now
Play Sample0:00
The new honest and hilarious novel from Holly Bourne, bestselling author of How Do You Like Me Now?
WHY BE YOURSELF WHEN YOU CAN BE PERFECT?
**As featured on The High Low podcast**
'MAGNIFICENT. Brutally honest and righteously angry but still HUGELY enjoyable and engaging. I bow down!' Marian Keyes
'A thoughtful, intelligent, urgent novel women need to read.' Dolly AldertoN
The highly-anticipated new novel from Holly Bourne, bestselling author of HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW?
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He said he was looking for a 'partner in crime' which everyone knows is shorthand for 'a woman who isn't real'.
April is kind, pretty, and relatively normal - yet she can't seem to get past date five. Every time she thinks she's found someone to trust, they reveal themselves to be awful, leaving her heartbroken. And angry.
If only April could be more like Gretel.
Gretel is exactly what men want - she's a Regular Everyday Manic Pixie Dream Girl Next Door With No Problems.
The problem is, Gretel isn't real. And April is now claiming to be her.
As soon as April starts 'being' Gretel, dating becomes much more fun - especially once she reels in the unsuspecting Joshua.
Finally, April is the one in control, but can she control her own feelings? And as she and Joshua grow closer, how long will she be able to keep pretending?
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PRAISE FOR HOLLY BOURNE:
'Honest and unflinching' Stylist
'Funny, touching and painfully true' Grazia
'Relatable for any woman navigating emotional time bombs' Red
'Bourne incinerates the lies we're all capable of telling ourselves' Emerald Street
'Funny, real and heartbreaking' Lucy Vine
'Funny, sad, honest, insightful, up-to-the-minute' Roisin Meaney
'Smart, witty and perceptive. Razor-sharp on friendship, self-image and self-deception' Lucy Diamond
More books by Holly Bourne
Praise for Pretending: The brilliant adult novel from Holly Bourne. Why be yourself when you can be perfect?
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MAGNIFICENT. The whole sorry mess of gender and sexual politics wrapped up in a compelling story told by an ADORABLE heroine. I feel educated and empowered from reading it. Brutally honest and righteously angry but still HUGELY enjoyable and engaging. I BOW DOWN!
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'Unsettling and hopeful, enlightening and entertaining. A thoughtful, intelligent, urgent novel women need to read' - Dolly Alderton
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Pretending is the most freeing, reassuring book on dating after #MeToo I've ever read. Perceptive. Hilarious. Reassuring. Brilliant.
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I love this book! It made me cry and laugh and rage and fall completely in love with the characters and you MUST READ IT! It's beautifully written and completely engrossing but also a really important, timely book. Sheer brilliance.
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Pretending looks at what it is to be a woman and makes the reader look inwards (or backwards), reflecting on past encounters with more awareness, forgiveness and understanding than ever before. Empowering, thought-provoking, honest, observant, heart-wrenching and uncomfortable - an exposing and healing read - Giovanna Fletcher
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I cannot think of a more important modern love story to tell - Dolly Alderton, The High Low podcast
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What looks like a lolzy rom-com is actually a punch-in-the-gut brilliant novel about consent and mental health. Don't let this one pass you by - Grazia
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The amazing thing about Holly's writing is how she's able to say not just what we're all thinking but what we're even too afraid to admit to ourselves. Her books should be mandatory reading for everyone.
Discover more
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Holly Bourne (author of HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW) gives some advice
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Holly Bourne on why she wrote HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW
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Holly Bourne (author of HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW) on just how true to life this book is!
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Adult vs YA Writing | Holly Bourne (author of HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW)
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Holly Bourne (author of HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW) book recommendations!
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Holly Bourne (author of HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW) gives some advice
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Holly Bourne on why she wrote HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW
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Holly Bourne (author of HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW) on just how true to life this book is!
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Adult vs YA Writing | Holly Bourne (author of HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW)
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Holly Bourne (author of HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW) book recommendations!
Holly Bourne
Holly started her writing career as a news journalist, where she was nominated for Best Print Journalist of the Year. She then spent six years working as an editor, a relationship advisor, and general 'agony aunt' for a youth charity - helping young people with their relationships and mental health. Inspired by what she saw, she started writing teen fiction, including the best-selling, award-winning 'Spinster Club' series which helps educate teenagers about feminism. When she turned thirty, Holly wrote her first adult novel, examining the intensified pressures on women once they hit that landmark.
Alongside her writing, Holly has a keen interest in women's rights and is an advocate for reducing the stigma of mental health problems. She's helped create online apps that teach young people about sexual consent and is an ambassador for Women's Aid.
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