Ten Steps to Happiness

She's left the rat race behind – but taken her contacts book with her.

Jo Smiley abandons her glamorous London lifestyle to decamp to a draughty manor house with her new husband, the divine Charlie. Happiness awaits: all they need is a plan to make it pay.

Deep in the English countryside, Fiddleford makes an ideal refuge from the media. And as the first few paparazzi-battered guests arrive, Jo allows herself to hope. The house might be crumbling, the chef temperamental, but the Fiddleford magic never fails…apparently.

But while for the guests, happiness might be a warm cow's nose and a ramble in the wild and beautiful gardens, the local council has other ideas. Suddenly Jo and Charlie's rural retreat looks shaky. Can they fend off the officials, save their dream and stay on their own path to happiness?

Reviews

‘Sparkling fun.’ HEAT

‘Full of laugh-out-loud funny bits.’ NEW WOMAN

‘Possessed of her late father, Auberons’ dry wit, and grandfather Evelyn’s light comic touch, Daisy Waugh’s refreshing tale of a glamorous urbanite’s struggle to come to terms with life running a crumbling country-house hotel is a joy. Especially the stabs at egocentric celebrity types.’ CHOICE

‘A surprisingly witty, romantic read.’ COMPANY

‘Waugh’s take on media life is spot on, as are her descriptions of the more irritating aspects of country life.’ MARIE CLAIRE

PRAISE FOR THE NEW YOU SURVIVAL KIT:

A hilarious, witty comedy of modern manners.' Adele Parks, author of Game Over and Playing Away.

‘refreshingly sharp and witty social satire… the author’s astute observations are fleshed by plenty of insider know-how’ Daily Mail

‘funny, cynical, and genuinely knowing about media London… the most superbly reactionary fable’ Evening Standard

‘wicked modern satire’ Daily Express

About the author

Daisy Waugh is a journalist and travel writer. She has worked as an agony aunt and as a restaurant critic. She was a teacher at a girl’s school in Northern Kenya and has also written a weekly column from Los Angeles about her attempts to become a Hollywood scriptwriter. Daisy and her family of five live in London.