Wonderful, The - Softcover

Sarginson, Saskia

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1250083516 ISBN 13: 9781250083517

Publisher: Flatiron Books, 2019

Synopsis

A sweeping and turbulent drama about the anxieties of postwar Britain, where one strong and inspirational young woman looks to find her place, no matter the cost.

Sometimes, the truth lies in fiction

It’s hard to be an American girl in 1957. Especially when your dad’s job means you have to move four thousand miles from home. Especially if you’d rather play baseball than wear a dress. Especially if you see your mom fraying a little more from anxiety each day. And especially if being five minutes older means you have to protect your fragile twin brother.

Still, Hedy Delaney loves her family, and she’s trying to make the best of her new life on a U.S. airbase in England. After all, her dad’s a war hero, her mother’s a beauty, and her brother’s a brainiac who writes moving stories about space travel.

Then one tragic day, the unforeseen occurs and all three are ripped away, leaving Hedy alone with countless questions. What really happened on the airbase? What went on behind military closed doors? What were the secrets that could never be told? And how could any of it have led to her family’s destruction?

In her search for the truth, Hedy turns to a story her brother began months before he died. Deciding to finish what her brother started, Hedy begins to piece together what happened to her family. But whether she’s ready for what she’ll discover is another matter entirely.

A sweeping and turbulent family drama, The Wonderful asks whether writing fiction can uncover fact, and if it’s ever better to let the truth remain hidden.

Sometimes, it’s safer not to finish what you’ve started.

About this title

About the Author

Saskia Sarginson holds an M.A. in creative writing and a B.A. in English literature from Cambridge University. Before becoming a full-time author, she was a health and beauty editor on women's magazines, a ghostwriter, and a copywriter and script editor. She lives in south London with her partner and four children.

Review

Praise for The Wonderful:

“A gripping and emotional story which, although set in a past era, has chilling implications for the present day. The Wonderful is an engrossing read with endearing characters thrust into traumatic circumstances.”
―Lisa Ballantyne, author of The Guilty One and Redemption Road

“Stunning writing and wonderful, nuanced characterization. I was hooked into this story.”
―Rosamund Lupton, author of The Quality of Silence

“Exploring the fears of a post-war era, The Wonderful is an inspirational and compelling story.”
―Candis (UK)

“An intense and brooding read, with a brilliantly claustrophobic sense of place.”
―Sunday Mirror (UK)

Praise for The Other Me:

“I raced through The Other Me in just a few short sittings. Part coming-of-age story, part consuming family history, and part gripping mystery, The Other Me deftly moves between WWII Germany and London, nearly half a century later, until the storylines collide. This enthralling read will keep you up long into the night.”
―Ruth Ware, New York Times bestselling author of In a Dark, Dark Wood

“The Other Me is the kind of novel I adore, precisely because it crept up on me and I suddenly realized I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. It’s a beautifully written, gripping novel.”
―Louise Walters, author of Mrs. Sinclair’s Suitcase

“Gripping and spectacular, The Other Me by Saskia Sarginson is storytelling at its best.”
―Sarah Jio, New York Times bestselling author of The Look of Love

“There are some books which are so compelling, the plots so engaging and the writing so perfectly paced and accessible that simply captivate the reader, and this for me was one such book...Tragic, haunting and affecting, it’s a truly immersive emotional experience and a read that you’ll want to share and discuss.”
―We Love This Book (UK)

“This book blew me away. It was brilliant. Compelling, emotional, and heartbreaking.”
―BookThing (UK)

About this edition

• Publisher: Flatiron Books
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1250083516
• ISBN 13: 9781250083517
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 398