Winner of the BBC National Short Story Award 2023

In my life, I had always been a good woman; controlling what it was that I wanted. But recently, I had started to notice my bad energy, and I began to follow it, wondering where it would take me…

A woman has an unexpected outburst at a corporate therapy session for working mothers. A couple find some long-overdue time to rekindle their relationship and make an ill-advised home movie. A pregnant film director plots revenge on the actress who betrayed her. An ex-wife deliberately causes conflict at her ex-husband’s wedding.

This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things illuminates the lives of malicious, subversive and untamed women. Exploring failed sisterhood, dubious parenting and the dark side of modern love, this powerful and funny collection exposes how society wants women to behave, and shows what happens when they refuse.

(Out with Phoenix/Orion in April 2024!)

A Daily Mail top fiction pick for 2024

‘Glorious‘ EMMA HEALEY

‘Very funny‘ JESSIE BURTON

‘Pitch-perfect‘ CHRISTIE WATSON

‘Beautiful‘ SARAH HALL

‘Read it and riot‘ MARIANNE LEVY

‘I loved it‘ DAVID WHITEHOUSE

‘Clever and illuminating‘ LUCY CALDWELL

‘Packed full of voice‘ JARRED MCGINNIS

‘Ultra-smart‘ MEGAN BRADBURY

‘Cool and coruscating’ YAN GE