We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves

Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2014

The Million Copy Best-Seller

Rosemarys young, just at college, and shes decided not to tell anyone a thing about her family. So were not going to tell you too much either: youll have to find out for yourselves, round about page 77, what it is that makes her unhappy family unlike any other.

Rosemary is now an only child, but she used to have a sister the same age as her, and an older brother. Both are now gone – vanished from her life. Theres something unique about Rosemarys sister, Fern. And it was this decision, made by her parents, to give Rosemary a sister like no other, that began all of Rosemarys trouble. So now shes telling her story: full of hilarious asides and brilliantly spiky lines, its a looping narrative that begins towards the end, and then goes back to the beginning. Twice.

Its funny, clever, intimate, honest, analytical and swirling with ideas that will come back to bite you. We hope you enjoy it, and if, when youre telling a friend about it, you do decide to spill the beans about Fern – its pretty hard to resist – dont worry. One of the few studies Rosemary doesnt quote says that spoilers actually enhance reading.