Meredith, Alone
The hopeful and uplifting debut you’ll never forget
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- $15.99
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
For anyone who has lost hope, Meredith will help you find it . . .
NAMED 'ONE TO WATCH' IN GRAZIA, CULTUREFLY, THE BOOKSELLER AND BY THE BBC
'Gorgeous. I shed tears. Very, very touching, sweet and hopeful' MARIAN KEYES
'Heartbreaking and glorious . . . [An] absolute joy of a novel' HEAT, 'BOOK OF THE WEEK'
'Beautiful, moving and unexpectedly timely. It's such a pleasure to spend time in Meredith's world' DAISY BUCHANAN
'Touching and funny and sad and hopeful. I loved Meredith, Alone so much!' JANE FALLON
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Meredith Maggs has everything a person needs.
A best friend in Sadie.
A beloved cat in Fred.
Jigsaws to fill the time.
Recipes to perfect.
Even a weekly visit from the Tesco delivery guy.
So what if she hasn't left the house in 1,214 days? That her memories are treacherous, and it's getting harder to ignore the estranged sister knocking at her door.
How long can one woman keep the world out?
How long before she invites in what's out there?
And how long does it take to discover the person you were meant to be?
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'Absolutely gorgeous. If you like a book that makes you feel all the feels, this is the one to go for' Miranda Dickinson
'I laughed, I cried, and I bowed down to the brilliant author of this brilliant book' Gillian McAllister, bestselling author of Wrong Place, Wrong Time
'Thought provoking, relatable and hopeful. Ultimately this is a very human novel with a huge amount of heart' Culturefly, 'Books To Look Forward To'
'A gorgeous, charming novel . . . Sweet, moving, funny and hopeful, with a courageous heroine who sweeps you up in her story' Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ariadne
'This will be big' The Bookseller Editor's Choice
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
From the title, you might blithely assume this is a loner’s misery memoir or a rom-com about a Bridget Jones-style singleton. Don’t be fooled and don’t miss out. It’s actually an ingeniously immersive, really rather beautiful novel about trauma and mental health—although much funnier and more uplifting than that may sound. Loveable recluse Meredith Maggs is such a rounded character, she’ll fast feel like an old friend. With huge tenderness and empathy, Alexander takes us inside her complex creation’s head and back through her past. We gradually learn what brought Meredith here—while increasingly believing that she can rebuild herself and escape. It’s a deeply affecting tale of hope lost and found, the bittersweet bonds of family, and companionship found in unlikely places. There are echoes of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, hints of Mad About You by Mhairi McFarlane, even a dash of Shuggie Bain. Alexander’s achievement is all the more impressive when you realise it’s her fiction debut, clearly written from the heart. Deeply affecting but ultimately optimistic, Meredith’s world will stay with you long after you leave it.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Alexander's satisfying debut follows a woman who hasn't left her home for over three years. Meredith Maggs, nearing her 40th birthday, is content to live within the confines of her Glasgow flat, working as a freelance writer, solving jigsaw puzzles, and spending time with her best friend, Sadie, who helps with such errands as taking Meredith's cat to the vet. Meredith finds company in an online mental health support group, where she meets Celeste, a kindred soul who loves cats as much as Meredith does. Also keeping her company is Tom McDermott, a volunteer from the Holding Hands charity whose objective is to offer "friendship and support to anyone who needs it." She insists on not needing charity, but Tom turns out to be a caring companion with whom Meredith enjoys sharing biscuits and poetry. He gently prods into her past, seeking the reason she stopped going outside and stirring up memories of her difficult childhood. The measured pace keeps the plot moving even as most of the action takes place within Meredith's flat, and the endearing characters offer a sensitive portrayal of what it means to live with mental health issues. The result is a quiet slice-of-life story with heart to spare.