Everything Is Beautiful, Everything Hurts

Can you ever truly run away from your past?

Mickey Bloom: five foot tall, dyslexic, and bullied at school. With a mostly absent and hostile father, Mickey feels she's no good at anything. Until she discovers running.

Mickey's new-found talent makes her realise she's everything she thought she wasn't — powerful, strong, and special. But her success comes at a cost, and the relentless training and pressure to win leaves Mickey broken; her dream in tatters.

Years later, when Mickey is working in a dead-end job with a drop-kick boyfriend, her mother becomes seriously ill. While nursing her, Mickey realises the only way she can overcome her grief – and find herself – is to run again.

A chance encounter with a former Olympian sees Mickey re-ignite her dreams. The two women form an unbreakable bond, as Mickey is shown what it means to run in the right direction.

An unforgettable debut novel about change, family, and grit, and one that shows the power of following your dreams.