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Reading lists

Complex heroines you can’t help but root for

The unforgettable Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick

The Cassandra Complex

'Holly Smale is an exceptional writer and this book is a treasure. Everyone should read it and everyone will love it'

'Witty, touching and totally absorbing. Cassandra is a funny and sharply-observed character who I loved spending time with'

'Sharp, funny, quirky, insightful and so very, very relatable'

'Cassandra Dankworth is one of the most compulsively readable protagonists in contemporary fiction. This is a truly original novel, a war cry for you to be you and for me to be me. I loved it.'

'Cassandra Dankworth is a character as unique as she is endearing ... An absolute gem of a novel'

'Reinvigorates the time loop trope with the perfect match of character and concept ... Utter genius!'

'I didn't want it to end, but I also couldn't stop reading. I really, really loved it'

With a genius premise, hilarious and poignant writing, and a heroine who is both unique and so relatable, this is THE book for anyone who has ever wished life came with an undo button

'Clever, unusual and often amusing, this is a powerful exploration of one woman's attempt to find happiness against the odds'

'A very clever book . . . A quirky story, written with intelligence and humour.'

'Witty, touching and totally absorbing. Cassandra is a funny and sharply-observed character who I loved spending time with.'

Graeme Simsion, author of The Rosie Project

'Cassandra Dankworth is a character as unique as she is endearing. . . Humorous and insightful, this is an absolute gem of a novel.'

Margarita Monitmore, author of The Rearranged Life of Oona Lockhart

'Hilarious, insightful... the perfect match of character and concept. Utter genius!

Catriona Silvey, internationally bestselling author of Meet Me in Another Life

'A dazzling accomplishment - a book as intricate as it is wise; deftly plotted, deeply human, wildly original, and gut-warmingly funny. A book set to shift paradigms and make heads and hearts pop with joy. Holly Smale is a GENIUS, make no mistake'

'A brilliantly clever, twisty story that dazzles with its wit whilst touching our hearts ... A hugely entertaining book with an important message, The Cassandra Complex is a triumph!'

'The Cassandra Complex is instantly addictive and totally electric. It's a gorgeous tale of all kinds of love, and dazzlingly sharp and witty. Cassie is endearing, brilliant, and Holly Smale's writing is a breath of fresh air. If only I could time travel and experience this story for the first time again!'

'Smale makes Greek myth-obsessed Cassandra a compelling companion, painfully aware that she doesn't it in, but unable to change her compulsions. She's smart and often funny, and her chaotic attempts to set the world to rights are poignantly rendered.'

Engaging, sharply written and utterly unique

THE HILARIOUS NEW REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB PICK 
Published in the USA as Cassandra in Reverse 
 
If you had the power to change the past... where would you start? 
 
Cassie has never really fitted in. She remembers everything. Understands nothing. And consistently says the wrong thing. 
 
So when she gets dumped, fired AND her local café runs out of banana muffins - all in one day - it feels like the end of the world. 
 
But then Cassie discovers she has the power to go back and change things. 
 
With endless chances to get it right, can she stop it all from going wrong? 
 
'Witty, touching and totally absorbing' Graeme Simsion, author of The Rosie Project 
 
Not your average story. Not your average character. 
But fitting in is overrated. . . 
BUY THE STAND-OUT BOOK OF 2023 
As featured on Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 2 Book Club, The Times & Daily Mail 
_________________________ 
 
Cassie is not a People Person. But she's about to win your heart. . . 
 
'A time-twisting delight' REESE WITHERSPOON 
'Fabulously funny and filled with heart' DAILY MAIL 
'Utterly brilliant!!' ZOE BALL 
'Smart and funny' THE TIMES 
'A triumph!' SUN 
'Everyone should read it and everyone will love it' LINDSEY KELK 
'Engaging, sharply written and utterly unique' WOMAN AND HOME 
'Sharp, funny, quirky, insightful and so very, very relatable' JOANNE HARRIS 
'A hilarious and heartwarming read' WOMAN'S OWN 
'Extremely readable and highly entertaining' BUSINESS POST 
'Deeply human, wildly original, and gut-warmingly funny' EMMA JANE UNSWORTH 
'A war cry for you to be you and for me to be me' LAURA JANE WILLIAMS 
'A quirky story, written with intelligence and humour' IRISH EXAMINER 
'I rooted for Cassie throughout. Wonderful' DAILY MAIL 
'This is THE book for anyone who has ever wished life came with an undo button' SOPHIE IRWIN 
'Clever, unusual and often amusing' DAILY EXPRESS 
'Dazzles with its wit whilst touching our hearts' SARAH HAYWOOD 
'A brilliantly witty read' SUN ON SUNDAY 
'Clever and breezily comic' RTÉ GUIDE

Holly Smale

If you had the power to change the past. . . where would you start? 
 
Cassie has never really fitted in. She remembers everything. Understands nothing. And consistently says the wrong thing. 
 
So when she gets dumped, fired AND her local café runs out of banana muffins - all in one day - it feels like the end of the world. 
 
But then Cassie discovers she has the power to go back and change things. 
 
With endless chances to get it right, can she stop it all from going wrong? 
 
As featured on Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 2 Book Club, The Times & Daily Mail 
_________________________ 
 
'A time-twisting delight' REESE WITHERSPOON 
'Utterly brilliant!' ZOE BALL 
'Everyone should read it and everyone will love it' LINDSEY KELK 
'Totally absorbing' GRAEME SIMSION 
'Sharp, funny, quirky, insightful and so very, very relatable' JOANNE HARRIS 
'Hilarious and heartwarming' WOMAN'S OWN 
'Gut-warmingly funny' EMMA JANE UNSWORTH 
'Truly original novel' LAURA JANE WILLIAMS 
'Very clever' IRISH EXAMINER 
'IWonderful' DAILY MAIL 
'This is THE book for anyone who has ever wished life came with an undo button' SOPHIE IRWIN 
'Smart [and] funny' THE TIMES 
'A triumph' SUN 
'Clever [and] unusual' DAILY EXPRESS 
'Brilliantly clever' SARAH HAYWOOD 
'A witty read' SUN ON SUNDAY 
 
First published in the UK as The Cassandra Complex.

Holly Smale

Cassandra in Reverse

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