The Armchair Bride

Lisa Doyle is fine. Absolutely fine. Her best friend is getting married, everyone else is settled, and Lisa is very much not.

Lisa doesn't need a boyfriend.

She just needs people to stop looking at her like that.

At thirty-nine, Lisa's life is fine. She has a job, a flat, friends, and a sofa she's very attached to. But everywhere she goes, it feels like everyone else is married, engaged, or living in a polygamous cult.

She's none of the above. And people keep noticing.

So when Lisa wakes up hungover to discover she's announced her own engagement on Instagram, it feels less like a disaster and more like a solution. One fictional fiancé. One small lie. No more awkward questions.

At first, it works. Friends are delighted. Colleagues relax. Family stop worrying. Lisa finds herself enjoying the strange freedom that comes with being "settled".

But fake relationships have a habit of growing legs. The questions start. Plans are made. Expectations build. And as the imaginary groom takes on a life of his own, Lisa has to decide how far she's willing to go to keep everyone else comfortable, and what it might cost her to finally tell the truth.

The Armchair Bride is a contemporary romantic comedy about modern singledom, social pressure, and the quiet panic of feeling left behind. Funny, sharp and painfully relatable, it's perfect for readers who enjoy emotionally grounded rom-coms with heart as well as humour.

Perfect for readers who enjoy Beth O'Leary, Mhairi McFarlane and Marian Keyes.