First, thanks to Eddie and Bobby Charlton for our insane night out in Singapore with David Beckham – if I’d written him in no one would have believed it. To the lovely inhabitants of Tioman Island for their warmth and hospitality – it really was an incredible place to visit. To Kirsty Greenwood for her endless cheerleading and friendship. As an early, enthusiastic reader I am indebted to her. To the thieving one-armed monkey on Tioman Island for returning my glasses case – you little scamp!
Hugs and thanks to my lovely agent Clare Wallace who is fortunately nothing like Randy. To the glamorous and energetic team at Darley Anderson who have always been incredibly approachable, good humoured and supportive. Thank you in particular to Emma, Sheila and Mary for all that you do in the Rights department on my behalf.
To Louise Cullen at Corvus, my unflappable editor, who truly loves women’s fiction and who champions my books so well. To the fantastic tour de force that is Alison Davies – I am always bowled over by your enthusiasm and love working with you. Thank you also to Sarah Pocklington for some fantastic ideas. To Fran and her work in the Digital Team, Lucy Howkins, the sales reps and the whole gang at Atlantic Books who work tirelessly behind-the-scenes. To Emma Rogers for another fabulous cover and to Nicky Lovick for her eagle-eyed edit.
To the many bloggers, readers, writers that have been a source of constant online, and real life, amusement. Thank you so much for reading, reviewing and shouting about my books. I am always blown away by the generosity of you all and your desire to spread bookish love.
To the Martin and Major families for the fantastic holidays in Polzeath – truly my favourite place to be. You have made those weeks such fun and I have loved every minute. Even that round of golf at Rosearrow. You know the one.
Above all to Ben – a cracking example of an excellent husband. I love you lots and can’t imagine life without you.
First published in paperback in Great Britain in 2016 by Corvus,
an imprint of Atlantic Books Ltd.
Copyright © Rosie Blake, 2016
The moral right of Rosie Blake to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities, is entirely coincidental.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Paperback ISBN: 978 1 78239 862 2
E-book ISBN: 978 1 78239 863 9
Printed in Great Britain.
Corvus
An imprint of Atlantic Books Ltd
Ormond House
26–27 Boswell Street
London
WC1N 3JZ
www.corvus-books.co.uk
Also by Rosie Blake
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How to Stuff Up Christmas
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Epilogue