The Very Picture of You

Because a picture paints a thousand words.

Ella has always been an artist, jotting down pictures from a young age, and now in her thirties she has made it her profession. Commissioned to capture memories, fading beauty and family moments, her sitters often reveal more about themselves than merely their outward appearance.

When Ella's younger sister Chloe asks her to paint a portrait of her new fiancé Nate, Ella is reluctant. He is a brash American who Ella thinks has proposed far too fast, so the thought of spending many hours alone with him fills her with dread. But before long Ella realises there is more to Nate than meets the eye.

Beautifully inter-weaving the stories of Ella's sitters – from the old lady with a wartime secret, to the handsome politician who has a confession to make – with Ella's own hunt for her real father and slow realization that she is falling in love with the wrong man, Isabel Wolff delivers a mesmerizing story that delivers a powerful emotional punch.

A truly unforgettable portrait of the many aspects of love.

Reviews

Praise for The Very Picture of You:

'Isabel Wolff is a wonderful writer who weaves humour and pathos to great effect…. I loved this book with its compelling characters, thoughtful air, warmth and wit.' Daily Mail

‘This heart-warming, gentle story is pure feel-good stuff and should be added to your must-read list immediately.’ Candis

‘It’s easy to read – something you can dip in and out of on the way to work.’ Heat

‘A wonderful story.’ The Sun

‘***’ Daily Express

Praise for Isabel Wolff’s previous bestsellers:

‘Romance in a vintage clothes shop – we were sold from line one. Luckily, this book lives up to its hype, and is filled with all the sensory goodness that leads to inevitable comparisons to Joanne Harris – this is an author to bookmark.’ Irish Tatler

‘The love triangle is light and sparky, but what makes the book stand out is Wolff’s passion for vintage fashion; velvety, silken prose describes the clothes and their history, with several pieces telling rich stories that develop into compelling sub-plots’ Easy Living

‘Pure feel-good escapism. Perfect’ Sophie Kinsella

‘A touching, compulsive read. Love it!’ OK!

‘Old passions are re-ignited but should Laura risk everything on a past love or stick with her safe life? A charming, funny and unpredictable read’ Company

‘A resigned singleton, Laura’s world is rocked when her first boyfriend reappears. Compulsive’ Heat

‘Funny, charming, upbeat and unputdownable’ Marian Keyes

‘An engaging creation with a knack in witty one-liners’
Sunday Express

About the author

Isabel Wolff was born in Warwickshire and read English at Cambridge. She is the author of seven other bestselling novels, which are published in 23 languages. She lives in London with her family.