Single Bald Female
'A wonderful debut . . . moving and beautiful' - Emma Gannon
'An accomplished debut with witty and charming characters, twists and turns, and quietly devastating moments' - Justin Myers, The Guyliner
'Life affirming' - Kris Hallenga, Sunday Times bestselling author and founder of CoppaFeel!
Jessica Jackson has hit all the milestones for turning 30 – the career, the loving boyfriend and a cosy London flat they share with their cat. But a shock diagnosis of breast cancer turns Jess’s world upside down, and her contented life implodes with it.
Around her, her friends’ lives continue to follow the script, with the big white weddings and the baby scans. With her own future so uncertain, the only thing Jess is sure of is that she’s being left behind.
In the midst of it all, she meets Annabel, an enigmatic twenty-seven year old with incurable cancer. But while Annabel may not have long left, she understands much more about living than anyone Jess has ever met. And she’s determined to show Jess how to make every day count . . .
Frank, funny and poignant, Single Bald Female by Laura Price is a completely unforgettable story of love and friendship.
Praise for Single Bald Female
“A wonderful debut novel. A really touching story, comforting and warm story about friendship, support, life lessons and dealing with unexpected illness. Moving and beautiful.”
— Emma Gannon, Olive
“I loved this book so much. Price is such a skilful writer – and whether you've experienced cancer, grief, the chaos of the contemporary dating scene or the agony of a modern hen weekend, every word of Single Bald Female rings true. Warm, funny, unflinchingly honest but ultimately life-affirming, it made me want to hug everyone I know.”
— Lauren Bravo
“I was so invested in these characters. Life-affirming.”
— Kris Hallenga, bestselling author of Glittering a Turd and founder of CoppaFeel! Bravo
“Inspiring, candid and beautifully observed. Single Bald Female is an extraordinary, hugely moving story about the fight for survival. Life-affirming, tear-jerking and gorgeously written, I was sobbing at the end, and you will be too.”
— Hannah Tovey, The Education of Ivy Edwards
“A triumph . . . Laura has taken what is for many our biggest nightmare, and turned it into something uplifting, funny, heartwarming and real. I laughed and wept. It’s an extraordinary novel and one everyone should read.”
— Alexandra Potter, Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up
“Single Bald Female is a sparky, emotional, and heartwarming journey, with a vibrant lead character in Jess. It's not just about cancer, but its ripple effect on romantic relationships, fickle friends, highs and lows, work dramas, and the myriad custard pies life throws your way that don't stop even for a second just because you're ill. An accomplished debut with witty and charming characters, twists and turns, and quietly devastating moments.”
— Justin Myers, The Guyliner
“A warm and beautiful novel, heartbreaking yet uplifting, honest and funny with realistic characters that leap from the page. Laura has written a remarkable and moving debut. I loved it.”
— Jenny Quintana, The Missing Girl
“Tender, funny and insightful . . . at times heartbreaking but always infused with an appreciation of life that makes it so special. So good on friendship, love and the things that make our fragile lives worth living.”
— Rebecca Ley, For When I’m Gone
“Vibrant, witty and poignant, the narrative zips along as Jess navigates the thorny parts of life, work and love, all while undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Pick it up if you like zingy women's fiction with tenderness at its heart. I loved it.”
— Lizzie Pook, Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter
“A smart, funny, uplifting story about friendship, love and the unexpected twists life can take. Laura Price writes about difficult subjects with the lightest of touches, and managed to make me laugh and sob in the same sentence. This is a beautiful novel you’ll want to talk to all your friends about.”
— Freya Sampson, The Last Library