LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILEYS WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2016

'Wise, witty and utterly delightful. A book with a big, beating heart' Laurie Penny

'A beautifully written, funny, moving, life-affirming piece of wonder' Julie Hesmondhalgh

Miriam hasn't left her house in three years, and cannot raise her voice above a whisper. She still lives in the shadow of her dead mother... But today she has had enough, and is finally ready to rejoin the outside world.

Meanwhile, Ralph has made the mistake of opening a closet door, only to discover that his wife Sadie doesn't love him... And so he decides to leave his home.

Miriam and Ralph's chance meeting in a wood during a summer storm leads to an unusual friendship, and quirky twists. Rachel Elliott's loveable characters confront the hardest things in life with delicious humour and steady courage. Because sometimes, our over-connected world can seem too much for just one person…