Nothing Serious

A blisteringly sharp novel of self-acceptance, friendship and making connections in the most unexpected of places 
 
'Emotionally intelligent and thought-provoking. Raw and compelling' DAILY MAIL 
 
'A thought-provoking, quietly devastating novel about loneliness and what people will do to belong' RED 'Best Books of January 2024' 
 
'This book blew me away, I'm still reeling from it . . . This is a powerful novel that will bring out a world of emotions in you . . . Just brilliant' ***** Reader Review 
 
**** 
 
Nicki and Kevin have never met. They’ve matched online. But Kevin is actually Amber, a 17-year-old girl. 
Nicki, trying to escape an abusive relationship and her therapist’s advice, numbs herself with one-night stands. 
 
Amber is facing cracks in her friendships and pressure from her boyfriend. Her loneliness causes her to impersonate Kevin, even if he doesn’t exist. 
 
Genuine friendship and trust develop between them. Nicki is unsure if it is anything more, but Amber’s feelings are growing more intensely. 
 
Can Amber be honest without losing Nicki completely? 
 
Or is this nothing serious? 
 
*** 
 
Praise for Nothing Serious 
 
'A searing exploration into the shape of loneliness and how far we'll go to create connections' HEATHER DARWENT, Sunday Times bestselling author 
 
'Emotive . . . a powerful tale of a skewed but hopeful friendship through which two very different women find the courage to survive' AMY BEASHEL 
 
'WHAT. A. BOOK. I was utterly gripped from the first page. One that people will be talking about long after they finish reading' LISA HALL 
 
'Sharp, sublime and achingly hopeful. Nothing Serious takes an honest and heartfelt look at loneliness and longing, friendship and survival. I loved it' CHRIS WHITAKER, New York Times bestselling author

Always emotionally intelligent and thought-provoking. Raw and compelling

A thought-provoking, quietly devastating novel about loneliness and what people will do to belong

Sharp, sublime, and achingly hopeful. Nothing Serious takes an honest and heartfelt look at loneliness and longing, friendship and survival. I loved it

Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the End

A searing exploration into the shape of loneliness and how far we'll go to create connections

Heather Darwent, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Things We Do To Our Friends

An emotive insight into the consequences of bruising loneliness, Nothing Serious is a powerful tale of a skewed but hopeful friendship through which two very different women find the courage to survive

WHAT. A. BOOK. I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it before, I was utterly gripped from the first page. I loved Emma's characters, they felt real and balanced, flawed and relatable. Such a perfectly relevant read, and one that I think people will be talking about/thinking over for a long time after they finish reading

Lisa Hall, bestselling author of Between You and Me

Magnetic, raw and powerful, this is a compulsive novel about loneliness and connection that will stay with me a long time

Katie Lumsden, author of The Secrets of Hartwood Hall

Emma Medrano was born and raised in Sweden. She studied philosophy at the University of Glasgow and currently lives in Edinburgh. She has previously had short stories published in journals and was selected for Penguin Random House's WriteNow scheme, giving her the chance to develop her critically acclaimed debut novel Nothing Serious. Venus Fly Trap is her second novel. Emma can be found on Instagram and X: @emmawroteabook

Nicki - 30ish, care worker, living in Brighton - is scrolling for her next hook up. A difficult home life, a job that's going nowhere, she seeks solace in random encounters. Amber - 17, college student, lost - desperately needs someone to notice her. She creates 'Kevin', a fake dating profile for a man in his thirties. 
 
Neither Nicki nor 'Kevin' has any idea what they're about to get into. They quickly match, and an unlikely friendship develops, giving each other the validation they both sorely need. 
 
But can you ever truly connect when one of you is a liar?

Emma Medrano

Emma Medrano is such a talent. A gripping story I literally couldn’t put down. Wonderfully authentic characters in an increasingly dark, twisted fantasy. So looking forward to what Medrano does next

Chloe Michelle Howarth, Polari Shortlisted author of Sunburn

A toxic psychological thriller that will sink its teeth into you, Venus Fly Trap oozes with sass and seduction

Vikki Patis, author of Return to Black Water House

Chris Whitaker, Sunday Times bestselling author of All The Colours of the Dark

A searing exploration into the shape of loneliness and how far we'll go to create connections

When university student Louise moves in with her friend Cat, she can’t believe her luck. In her eyes, Cat is perfect – she’s rich, gorgeous, enigmatic and sexy, and the only person who has ever persuaded Henry, who doesn’t do commitment, into a monogamous relationship. 
 
Life in Cat and Henry’s orbit is never dull, but when a night in for the three of them ends up in bed, Louise is confronted with the true nature of their relationship, and has nowhere to hide when Cat asks for help getting out. 
 
Louise would do anything for Cat, even if what Cat asks terrifies her. Because for Louise, the only thing worse than doing what Cat is asking, is losing her completely . . .

Emma Medrano

Praise for Venus Fly Trap

Emma Medrano is such a talent. A gripping story I literally couldn’t put down. Wonderfully authentic characters in an increasingly dark, twisted fantasy. So looking forward to what Medrano does next

A sharp probing novel

A toxic psychological thriller that will sink its teeth into you, Venus Fly Trap oozes with sass and seduction

Emma Medrano is such a talent. A gripping story I literally couldn’t put down. Wonderfully authentic characters in an increasingly dark, twisted fantasy. So looking forward to what Medrano does next

A sharp probing novel

A toxic psychological thriller that will sink its teeth into you, Venus Fly Trap oozes with sass and seduction

Emma Medrano is such a talent. A gripping story I literally couldn’t put down. Wonderfully authentic characters in an increasingly dark, twisted fantasy. So looking forward to what Medrano does next

A sharp probing novel

A toxic psychological thriller that will sink its teeth into you, Venus Fly Trap oozes with sass and seduction

Books by Emma Medrano

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter