The unforgettable Richard and Judy Book Club pick

The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes

A sparkling, life-affirming story that will make you cry like Jojo Moyes and laugh like Dawn French.

What a beautiful book. I cried and smiled my way through

Heart-breaking yet blackly comic . . . echoing the style of Roddy Doyle. Impossible to put down.

Beautiful, brave storytelling . . . Buy a packet (or box) of tissues and settle down with this wonderful story. One of our books of 2015

A bittersweet story of family, faith and love . . . both deeply affecting and life-affirming

Enormously readable, funny and emotionally engaging

A delightful roller-coaster ride of emotion

I loved the clear, elegant prose, the feisty characters and the sparkling dialogue

An emotional tale filled with tears and laughter

Anna McPartlin can make you feel despair and sadness but she can also make you see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's quite an impressive feat. If you haven't already tried Anna McPartlin then you are definitely missing out. She is one of the finest writers around

The storyline and characters are swept along on a tide of humour . . . an uplifting read

Insightful and touching but jovial at the same time. There's nothing better than an Irish author who can drop the F-bomb in every paragraph.

Anna McPartlin is a novelist and scriptwriter. Her previous incarnation as a stand-up comedian left an indelible mark. She describes herself as a slave to the joke and finds humour and humanity in even the darkest situations. Anna lives in Wicklow with her husband and animals.

Here is a truth that can’t be escaped: for Mia ‘Rabbit’ Hayes, life is coming to an end . . . 
 
Rabbit Hayes loves her life, ordinary as it is, and the extraordinary people in it. 
 
She loves her spirited daughter, Juliet; her colourful, unruly family; the only man in her big heart, Johnny Faye. 
 
But it turns out the world has other plans for Rabbit, and she’s OK with that. Because she has plans for the world too, and only a handful of days left to make them happen. 
 
Here is a truth that won’t be forgotten: this is a story about laughing through life’s surprises and finding the joy in every moment. 
 
Praise for Anna McPartlin: 
 
'What a beautiful book. I cried and smiled my way through' Jane Green 
 
'I loved the clear, elegant prose, the feisty characters and the sparkling dialogue' Susan Elliot Wright 
 
'A delightful roller-coaster ride of emotion' Sunday Independent 
 
'Buy a packet (or box) of tissues and settle down with this wonderful story' Heat Magazine 
 
The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes is a Richard and Judy recommended read, and a Simon Mayo Book Club pick.

The Space Between Us

Fans of Marian Keyes and Jojo Moyes will love The Space Between Us, a heart-breaking story of friendship from award-nominated author, Anna McPartlin. 
From babyhood Eve and Lily were best friends. But one huge fight and 17 years later Eve wakes up from a horrific accident to find her old friend nursing her. 
At first, their reunion is tentative but during Eve's many months in hospital they confront both the lies of the past and their present failures. And each clearly sees how the other needs to change her life: Lily must get out of an impossible marriage and Eve has to face up to the pain she has caused others. 
The crisis that brought Eve and Lily together again seems like a blessing that has given them a second chance to be there for each other when they most need someone to lean on. Little do they suspect that their friendship is under a threat that will change the future forever ... 
'Anna McPartlin can make you feel despair and sadness but she can also make you see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's quite an impressive feat. If you haven't already tried Anna McPartlin then you are definitely missing out. She is one of the finest writers around and The Space Between Us is one of the best tales of friendship' Chicklitreviewsandnews.com 
'Anna's warmth and humour shine through as she takes the reader on a journey through laughter and tears' U Magazine 
Anna McPartlin believes that even the darkest times have their lighter moments and she tells tales that are authentic, deeply emotional and yet often deeply funny. The Space Between Us is Anna McPartlin at the height of her storytelling powers. 
Before her writing career took off Anna was, among other things, a stand-up comedian and a claims adjuster. Her first novel Pack Up The Moon was shortlisted as Newcomer of the Year in the Irish Book Awards and her writing has gone from strength to strength ever since. Her other titles include Apart from the Crowd, So What If I'm Broken, The Truth Will Out and her latest, the Richard and Judy Book Club title, The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes.

Anna's warmth and humour shine through as she takes the reader on a journey through laughter and tears

Anna McPartlin can make you feel despair and sadness but she can also make you see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's quite an impressive feat. She is one of the finest writers around and The Space Between Us is one of the best tales of friendship

Before becoming a full-time writer Anna McPartlin was, among other things, a stand-up comedian and a claims adjuster. She is in her thirties and lives in Co Wicklow with her husband, a musician.

From babyhood Eve and Lily were best friends. But one summer apart, one huge fight and 17 years later Eve wakes up from a horrific accident to find her old friend nursing her. 
 
At first, their reunion is tentative - Lily merely doing her duty and Eve distracted by her own pain and grief. But during Eve's many months in hospital they confront both the lies of the past and their present failures. Each sees what the other must do to get a messy life back on track: Lily needs to leave an impossible marriage and Eve has to face up to the pain her actions have caused others. 
 
The crisis that brought Eve and Lily together again seems like a blessing that has given their friendship a second chance when they both most need a true friend. Little do they suspect that it is under a threat that will change the future forever ...

The Truth Will Out

'A touching story of friendship, courage and love ... we couldn't put it down' Closer 
Twice Harri tries to marry the love of her life. 
Twice she fails. 
Since there are only so many times she can leave her man standing at the altar, Harri loses him. 
On top of that, as she battles the panic attacks that have stopped her getting married, Harri discovers that everything she understood about her life is wrong. 
As the truth comes out, and the world she thought she knew crumbles around her, Harri struggles to pick up the pieces. 
Can she find herself again and, if she does, will it be too late for love? 
'Anna McPartlin can make you feel despair and sadness but she can also make you see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's quite an impressive feat. If you haven't already tried Anna McPartlin then you are definitely missing out' Chicklitreviews.com 
Combining Marian Keyes' ability to mix darkness and light, and adding a unique twist of her own, Anna McPartlin shot to the top of the Irish bestseller charts with her first novel, Pack Up The Moon. Anna believes that even the darkest times have their lighter moments and she tells tales that are authentic, deeply emotional and yet, also, often very funny. Her other titles include Apart from the Crowd, So What If I'm Broken, The Space Between Us and her latest, the Richard and Judy Book Club title, The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes.

Anna McPartlin's life and her writing are all about finding humour and humanity in even the darkest situations. Her experience of losing her parents at a young age has given her a profound understanding of loss, surviving it and making the very best of life. Before becoming a full-time writer Anna was, among other things, a stand-up comedian and a claims adjuster. As well as novels, she writes TV comedy drama. She is in her thirties and lives in Co Wicklow with her husband, a musician.

Twice Harri tries to marry the love of her life. 
Twice she fails. 
 
Since there are only so many times she can leave her man standing at the altar, Harri loses him. 
 
Not only that, in getting to grips with the panic attacks that have stopped her getting married, Harri discovers that what she understood about her life up to now is all wrong. She seems set to lose everything else too. 
 
As the truth of her past comes out, and the world she thought she knew crumbles around her, Harri struggles to pick up the pieces. 
 
Can she find herself again and, if she does, will it be too late for love?

So What If I'm Broken?

Fans of Marian Keyes and Jojo Moyes will love So What If I'm Broken, a heart-breaking and complex story of love and friendship from award-nominated author, Anna McPartlin. 
Once Jane and Alexandra were inseparable - sharing adventures, secrets and big dreams for the future. But when Jane got pregnant at seventeen, they drifted apart. 
Seventeen years later, Jane discovers Alexandra has disappeared and she sets about helping Alexandra's broken-hearted husband, Tom, to find his wife. 
But in searching for Alexandra Jane is about to confront some big questions about herself. Like, what happened to the high-spirited seventeen-year-old she once was? What will happen if she stops trying to control the world? And does love really mean letting people go? 
Two fractured people come together accidentally and in one another they find strength, friendship - and even the beginnings of hope ... 
'Anna McPartlin can make you feel despair and sadness but she can also make you see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's quite an impressive feat. If you haven't already tried Anna McPartlin then you are definitely missing out. She is one of the finest writers around' Chicklitreviewsandnews.com 
'Anna's warmth and humour shine through as she takes the reader on a journey through laughter and tears' U Magazine 
Anna McPartlin believes that even the darkest times have their lighter moments and she tells tales that are authentic, deeply emotional and yet often deeply funny. So What If I'm Broken is Anna McPartlin at the height of her storytelling powers. 
Before her writing career took off Anna was, among other things, a stand-up comedian and a claims adjuster. Her first novel Pack Up The Moon was shortlisted as Newcomer of the Year in the Irish Book Awards and her writing has gone from strength to strength ever since. Her other titles include Apart from the Crowd, The Truth Will Out, The Space Between Us and her latest, the Richard and Judy Book Club title, The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes.

McPartlin radiates an amazing life-affirming humour and positivity ... a superb writer

Insightful and irresistible, by turns profound, poignant and laugh-out-loud funny

McPartlin writes with insight and compassion ... enormously readable, funny and emotionally engaging

Anna McPartlin's life and her writing are all about finding humour and humanity in even the darkest situations. Her experience of losing her parents at a young age has given her a profound understanding of loss, surviving it and making the very best of life. Before becoming a full-time writer Anna was, among other things, a stand-up comedian and a claims adjuster. As well as novels, she writes TV comedy drama. She is in her mid-thirties and lives just outside Dublin with her husband, a musician.

Once Jane and Alexandra were inseparable - sharing adventures, secrets and big dreams for the future. But when Jane got pregnant at seventeen, they drifted apart. 
 
Seventeen years later, Jane discovers Alexandra has disappeared and she sets about helping Alexandra's broken-hearted husband, Tom, to find his wife. 
 
But in searching for Alexandra Jane is about to confront some big questions about herself. Like, what happened to the high-spirited seventeen-year-old she once was? What will happen if she stops trying to control the world? And does love really mean letting people go? 
 
Two fractured people come together accidentally and in one another they find strength, friendship - and even the beginnings of hope ...

Apart From The Crowd

Fans of Marian Keyes and Jojo Moyes will love Apart From the Crowd, a heart-breaking and complex story of love and friendship from award-nominated author, Anna McPartlin. 
Five lost souls in search of redemption . . . 
To outsiders it looks as if Mary was born unlucky, but despite everything she has lost - even her little boy - deep down Mary believes in a happy ending. She just needs someone to remind her. 
Mary's friend Penny seems like the life and soul of every party, but appearances are deceptive and Penny needs to get a grip on her life. And their friends Ivan and Adam both need to man up and to face their mistakes. 
When a stranger arrives in their seaside village it looks like he has even bigger problems than anyone - but for all of them, especially Mary, he is going to electrify their lives. 
Sometimes the changes we most fear are those we most need and Apart From the Crowd is a gripping and inspiring story of how freedom comes from letting go of the past and embracing change. 
'Anna McPartlin can make you feel despair and sadness but she can also make you see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's quite an impressive feat. If you haven't already tried Anna McPartlin then you are definitely missing out. She is one of the finest writers around.' Chicklitreviewsandnews.com 
'Anna's warmth and humour shine through as she takes the reader on a journey through laughter and tears' U Magazine 
Anna McPartlin believes that even the darkest times have their lighter moments and she tells tales that are authentic, deeply emotional and yet often deeply funny. Apart from the Crowd is Anna McPartlin at the height of her storytelling powers. Before her writing career took off Anna was, among other things, a stand-up comedian and a claims adjuster. Her first novel Pack Up The Moon was shortlisted as Newcomer of the Year in the Irish Book Awards and her writing has gone from strength to strength ever since. Her other titles include So What If I'm Broken, The Truth Will Out, The Space Between Us and her latest, the Richard and Judy Book Club title, The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes.

Anna McPartlin's experience of losing her parents at a young age has given her a profound understanding of loss, surviving it and making the very best of life. Before becoming a full-time writer Anna was, among other things, a stand-up comedian and a claims adjuster. As well as novels, she writes TV comedy drama. She is in her mid-30s and lives just outside Dublin with her husband, a musician.

Five lost souls in search of redemption . . . 
 
To outsiders it looks as if Mary was born unlucky, but deep down she believes in a happy ending. She just needs someone to remind her. 
 
And Sam looks like a waster and a disappointment - the man who had it all and then threw it all away. He needs a fresh start. 
 
Penny is the life and soul of every party. She's also a drunk and some would say a home wrecker. She needs someone to understand her. 
 
Ivan's a sucker - a man who still cares about the woman who broke his heart and took his children from him. He needs to be brave. 
 
And Adam is in a loveless marriage and cheating on his wife, though only he knows why he married the wrong woman. He needs a wake-up call. 
 
For these five souls change is going to come, and, when it does, they all get more than they bargained for.

Pack Up The Moon

A heart-breaking, warm and funny story about love, loss and starting again

Combining Marian Keyes' ability to mix darkness and light, and adding a unique twist of her own, Anna McPartlin shot to the top of the Irish bestseller chart with her first book, Pack Up The Moon. The award-nominated novel invites you to think about a heartbreaking question: how do you survive the death of your partner. 
When her boyfriend John dies in a dreadful accident, his girlfriend Emma is plunged into despair. 
Emma loved John more than life itself and now she has lost everything that matters. Or so she thinks. For Emma has good friends who rally around. But the memory of that night returns to haunt each of them and they struggle to pick up the pieces. 
Emma knows that if she is ever to laugh at life again, or find the love she once had, or build a future, she will have to let go of the man she thought she couldn't live without. But how can do you let go and trust your heart? 
'Refreshingly honest, laugh-out-loud funny and heartfelt' Cathy Kelly 
'Anna McPartlin can make you feel despair and sadness but she can also make you see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's quite an impressive feat. If you haven't already tried Anna McPartlin then you are definitely missing out' Chicklitreviews.com 
'This witty, clever, emotional rollercoaster of a read has us sobbing and in stitches in equal measures' Stellar 
'Captures the pain of loss and longing ... but her background in stand-up comedy spills onto every page, making this touching novel so funny' Irish Independent 
Anna McPartlin believes that even the darkest times have their lighter moments and she tells tales that are authentic, deeply emotional and yet often deeply funny. Her titles include Apart from The Crowd, So What If I'm Broken, The Truth Will Out, The Space Between Us and her latest, the Richard and Judy Book Club title, The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes.

Captures the pain of loss and longing ... but her background in stand-up comedy spills onto every page, making this touching novel so funny

Insightful and moving ... defiantly irreverent

Brilliantly written ... an absolute page-turner

Anna McPartlin grew up in Kerry and Dublin. She lives in Wicklow with her husband, a musician. Before becoming a full-time writer she worked in insurance - and as a stand-up comic. As well as writing fiction, she also writes TV scripts. Anna believes that even the darkest times have their lighter moments and she tells tales that are authentic, deeply emotional and yet often deeply funny. Her titles include Apart from The Crowd, So What If I'm Broken, The Truth Will Out, The Space Between Us and her latest, the Richard and Judy Book Club title, The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes.

What if your boyfriend died right in front of you? 
 
It was a night of laughter and celebration. But when John dies in a dreadful accident, his girlfriend Emma is plunged into despair. She loved John more than life itself - and now death has taken him from her. She feels nothing, she has lost everything, her world spins out of control. 
 
Or so she thinks. For Emma has friends - good friends who rally around. But the shocking memory of that night returns to haunt each of them in different and trying ways. 
 
And Emma knows that if she is ever to laugh at life again, or find love she once had, she will have to let go of the man she thought she couldn't live without. She must let go and trust her heart.

Anna McPartlin

THE most beautiful book - compassionate, gritty, warm, authentic, uplifting.

My heart was ripped right out. I couldn’t put it down.

Brims with life . . . and will keep you thoroughly gripped until the truth is revealed.

Warm Irish humour lifts this book into another realm.

'And just like that my boy was gone.' 
 
Maisie Bean is a fighter. A survivor. Seventeen years ago, she went on a first date that went so badly it was enough to put the girl off chips. The marriage that followed was hell but it gave her two children: funny, caring Jeremy and bullish but brilliant Valerie. 
 
 Just as it seems everything might finally start going right, sixteen-year-old Jeremy goes missing. The police descend and a media storm swirls, over five days of searching that hurtle towards an inevitable, terrible conclusion. 
 
 Maisie is facing another fight, and this time it’s the fight of her life. But she’s a survivor. Whatever the odds, she’ll never give in. 
 
 From the bestselling author of The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes comes this heart-breaking yet uproariously uplifting new novel about love, resilience and the life-changing power of hope.

Anna McPartlin

Praise for Somewhere Inside of Happy

THE most beautiful book - compassionate, gritty, warm, authentic, uplifting.

My heart was ripped right out. I couldn’t put it down.

An emotional roller coaster of a read

THE most beautiful book - compassionate, gritty, warm, authentic, uplifting.

My heart was ripped right out. I couldn’t put it down.

An emotional roller coaster of a read

THE most beautiful book - compassionate, gritty, warm, authentic, uplifting.

My heart was ripped right out. I couldn’t put it down.

An emotional roller coaster of a read

Books by Anna McPartlin

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