Holly started her writing career as a news journalist, where she was nominated for Best Print Journalist of the Year. She then spent six years working as an editor, a relationship advisor, and general ‘agony aunt’ for a youth charity – helping young people with their relationships and mental health. Inspired by what she saw, she started writing teen fiction, including the best-selling, award-winning ‘Spinster Club’ series which helps educate teenagers about feminism. When she turned thirty, Holly wrote her first adult novel, examining the intensified pressures on women once they hit that landmark.

Alongside her writing, Holly has a keen interest in women’s rights and is an advocate for reducing the stigma of mental health problems. She’s helped create online apps that teach young people about sexual consent, works with Women’s Aid to spread awareness of abusive relationships, and runs Rethink’s mental health book club.

THE TIMES BESTSELLER

A Stylist Must-Read & a Red Magazine Best Book of 2018

'It is so good! It is so honest about being a woman and all the things that are expected of us ... I enjoyed it very much.' MARIAN KEYES

AS DISCUSSED ON BBC WOMAN'S HOUR AND THE SARA COX SHOW

*****

'Turning thirty is like playing musical chairs. The music stops, and everyone just marries whoever they happen to be sitting on.'

Who the f*ck is Tori Bailey?

There's no doubt that Tori is winning the game of life. She's inspired millions of women to stick two fingers up at convention with her bestselling memoir, and she has the perfect relationship to boot.

But Tori Bailey has been living a lie.

Everyone around her is getting married and having babies, but her long-term boyfriend won't even talk about getting engaged. And when her best friend Dee - her plus one, the only person who understands the madness - falls in love, suddenly Tori's in terrifying danger of being left behind.

When the world tells you to be one thing and turning thirty brings with it a loud ticking clock, it takes courage to walk your own path.

It's time for Tori to practise what she's preached, but the question is: is she brave enough?

The debut adult novel by bestselling author Holly Bourne is a blisteringly funny, honest and moving exploration of love, friendship and navigating the emotional rollercoaster of your thirties.

***

This summer, everyone is talking about HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW?

'Truly a f***ing good novel' EVENING STANDARD

'Relatable for any woman navigating emotional time bombs' RED

'Gave me all of the feelings ... this generation's Bridget Jones.' CARMEL HARRINGTON

'Funny, sad, honest, insightful, up-to-the-minute. Kept me guessing (and hoping) to the last page' ROISIN MEANEY

Sure to resonate with anyone navigating the emotional minefield of their thirties - RED ONLINE

'Smart, witty and perceptive. Razor-sharp on friendship, self-image and self-deception' LUCY DIAMOND

'Sublime, perfectly observed' LAURA JANE WILLIAMS

'Bourne incinerates the lies we're all capable of telling ourselves in this raw and very funny book; it'll resonate with anyone trying to convince themselves that sticking it out is better than being alone.' EMERALD STREET

'Funny, real and heartbreaking. I haven't been this obsessed with a book in years.' LUCY VINE

Injected with such reality it can't help but be hilarious - TIMES

What reviewers are saying:

'I f***king love this book. I was not expecting to feel so understood. I had to stop every page to fire off a quote to my best friend.' - Netgalley, 5 stars

'This book is everything - I was hooked from page one.' - Netgalley, 5 stars

'A laugh-out-loud read you will not want to put down... funny, relatable, honest and extremely addictive. 5***** 10/10' - Waterstones reviewer

'I can't get over how much I loved and appreciated this book... I needed to read this so badly. Holly speaks for me completely. The late-twenties/thirty-something's Cat Person.' - Netgalley, 5 stars