It Could Be Worse

The Wedding People meets Beth O'Leary!

Maggie May has a lot going for her.

A house in Cornwall. A fiancé. A sister.

Unfortunately, her fiancé is sleeping with her sister. In her kitchen. Over her table.

Ben Jones has his own problems. A lot of them. And a very questionable plan to fix them.

When Ben and Maggie meet unexpectedly, they make a deal: five weeks to turn their lives around. And neither of them will do anything stupid in the meantime.

Except one of them has been keeping a secret the whole time…

It Could Be Worse is a warm, funny and life-affirming novel about grief, terrible decisions, unexpected friendship, and why sometimes the worst night of your life is exactly what you need.

Reviews

Reviews for Claire's Books:

‘Moving, funny, and totally satisfying, I loved this book’ Katie Fforde, author of From London With Love

'Funny, empathetic and engaging. Loved it!' Sunday Times bestseller Sally Page, author of The Secrets of Flowers

'Now and then, a character carves our a permanent place in my heart. Step forward Pearl' Claire Alexander, author of Meredith, Alone

'This book felt like an absolute treat, a warm hug, hanging out with such likeable, funny characters.’ Aliya Ali-Afzal, author of Would I Lie to You?

‘This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!’ ★★★★★

‘This debut by Claire Frances is a rollercoaster of relatable quirks, raw emotions, and laugh out loud moments that’ll steal your heart faster than Pearl counts her way down the stairs.’ ★★★★★

‘I LOVED this book! […] Frances had me laughing and then almost crying, particularly nearer to the end.’ ★★★★★

‘I absolutely adored Pearl! She is messy, flawed scattered and so real I can imagine sitting down for a cup of tea with her.’ ★★★★★

‘If you’re looking for a read that’s both entertaining and insightful, add this one to your list. I promise you won’t regret it.’ ★★★★★

‘An absolute rollercoaster of chaos, charm, and unexpected heart! From the first page, I was hooked on its witty dialogue, laugh-out-loud moments, and the kind of chemistry that sizzles off the page. Claire Frances has delivered a story that’s wickedly fun and impossible to put down! Can’t wait to see what she writes next!’ ★★★★★

‘This was my first five-star read of 2025, and I absolutely devoured this book!’ ★★★★★

‘I absolutely adored Pearl! She is messy, flawed scattered and so real I can imagine sitting down for a cup of tea with her.’ ★★★★★

‘This is just gorgeous.’ ★★★★★

About the author

Claire Frances has a masters in Professional Writing, specialising in fiction, a diploma in Print Journalism and Radio, and studied Creative Writing at university. She has worked as a journalist and freelance feature writer for BBC Countryfile Magazine and Devon Life and was a host blogger for The Huffington Post UK.

Claire lives on Dartmoor with her husband and two children. She finds her inspiration to write flows most freely when she’s roaming the moors with Charlie, her Chocolate Labrador.