by Roxie Cooper
Stephanie changed quite a lot throughout the novel. To what extent did her personal development impact on her relationship Matt? Do you think as people change, they grow apart?
Stephanie and Jamie are both reluctant to break up their families. Do you empathise with their situations and did you find them relatable characters?
Do you think Stephanie and Jamie should have tried harder to save their marriages? How do you feel about Matt and Helen by the end of the novel?
Were you always rooting for Stephanie and Jamie to get together? Did your opinions on Matt and Helen change throughout the novel, and did the characters you wanted to end up together change?
Do you believe Steph and Jamie were meant to be? Why? What do you think the novel is saying about the idea of ‘The One’ and do you agree?
How do you feel about the ending of the novel?
Acknowledgements
Sarah Hornsley, you truly are the perfect agent. Thank you for being with me every step of the way. You’re my biggest cheerleader and I don’t know what I’d do without you.
To my incredible editor, Katie Seaman, who had so much creative vision for this novel from the second I met her. Thank you for your brilliant direction and Beyoncé-inspired editorial comments. Massive thanks to the entire team at Ebury, you’ve all made this dream come true. Tessa Henderson and Stephenie Naulls – thank you for helping me throw this book into the world.
A million thanks to all of my author friends, far too many to list here. But special mentions go out to Sasha Wagstaff, whose endless support over the past few years has been priceless. Isabelle Broom, thank you for being such a champion and general brilliant person.
This novel wouldn’t have been written without the three therapists in my life (they love a triangle, you know). Thank you to psychologist Dr LJ Carter, who met me in a Teesside Park coffee shop back in 2016 and helped me create the complex character which became Stephanie. I’ll never forget how you talked about her as if she was real. To clinical psychologist (and very reluctant Dr) Vicky Jervis – I’m not sure how many ‘research trips to the pub’ we’ve had, but I’m certain nobody would believe that we actually do just talk about psychology the entire time. Thank you, Amanda Wharton, for making me remember who I am.
I’m sure I have some of the best, most supportive friends anyone could ask for, but it would have been difficult to write this book without Dawn Chaplin, Laura Knights, Andrea Bruce and Caroline Wilkinson.
Enormous thanks to my on-call ‘medical team’ who allowed me to ask infinite questions about a range of complicated matters. Dr Rebecca Odedun, Dr Tom Poulton and Dr Ross – your compassion, skill and dedication to what you do is beyond admirable. Thank you, Fin O’Leary, for being my source of knowledge on all things completely random.
To my childhood friends, Leanne Weldrake and Melissa Martin – two of the bravest, most inspirational people I know. Thank you for meeting me on that sunny evening in the Black Bull two years ago and sharing your story with me.
To designer/artist extraordinaire, Steve Dobson – I am so very sorry for constantly bombarding you with questions about art for so long. I can’t believe I now have informed opinions of my own on such things #ArtChatz. Eternal thanks for all your help on this novel. I’m grateful to the amazing portrait artist Paul Bennett, who also took time to help me with art research. Gisborough Hall in the beautiful North York Moors – thank you for allowing me to nosy around and draw inspiration for the novel. If anyone wants to know what Heathwood Hall looks like in my head – that’s it.
Thank you to all the wonderful readers, reviewers, amazing bloggers, people I don’t know who message me in the middle of the night saying they can’t put my book down. You are the reason we do this.
I’d like to thank 2018 and its trials, tribulations, villains, obstacles and complications for coming at me with great force. You’ve made me stronger, wiser and a much better writer.
To my kids, my little warriors – you inspire me every single day with your bravery, individuality and resilience. Thank you for allowing me to be part of ‘Team Epic’ – there’s no place I’d rather be. X
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
Epub ISBN: 9781473562202
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Ebury Press, an imprint of Ebury Publishing,
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London SW1V 2SA
Ebury Press is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com
Copyright © Roxie Cooper, 2019
Cover illustration by Sophie Melissa
Cover: www.headdesign.co.uk
Roxie Cooper has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
This novel is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental
First published by Ebury Press in 2019
www.penguin.co.uk
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 9781529102468