'Edith's house interested us from the beginning'

Mysterious and inviting, Jessie and Margaret are drawn to their reclusive neighbour's house. It offers an escape from the dreary summer of 1977 and their fragile family life, into a world they can only dream about. When the house suddenly burns down at the same time as their mother moves out to live with her new boyfriend, and their father develops an unhealthy crush on a woman in their street, life seems bleak for the girls.
Escaping the claustrophobia of family life isn't easy, until the story of an eccentric and beautiful female explorer from the 1930s unfolds in a series of letters. In these letters she tells stories of far-flung places, secrets, doomed love and adventure. Her determination to live life to the full, risking everything cares about, holds untold consequences for all of them.

Wonderfully evocative . . . This is a skillfully crafted, emotionally powerful novel, full of incisive insight into the thrills and pain that accompany the journey to adulthood * Glamour *
Gorgeous . . . Atmospheric, stylish and engaging * Alex Heminsley in thelondonpaper *
A bigger novel in scope, power and poignancy than anything she's attempted before . . . warm and wise * Daily Mirror *
Great storytelling * Elle *
An unlikely mix of inter-war glamour and politics, punk rebelliousness and teenage angst is told with affection and imagination * Easy Living *
Fizzing with the daily drama of life that unfolds in the wake of love, betrayal and responsibility, this has a charm that will keep you enthralled * Good Housekeeping *
'Two compelling stories are beautifully played out, with shocking revelations' * Prima *
'Explores the boundaries of human relationships and what it means to live life to the full' * Historical Novels Review *

Louise Wener was born and raised in Ilford, East London. In the mid-nineties, after years of singing into hair brushes and working in dead end jobs, she found fame as lead singer with the pop band Sleeper and went on to record three top ten albums and eight top forty singles. She is now a full-time author.