A collage image of Penguin authors Avni Doshi, Jane Fallon and four others, animated with primary colours.

authors-cheer-up-Main.jpg

Reading lists

Penguin authors on the funny and hopeful books that cheer them up

Queen20Bee20packshot.jpg

Queen Bee by Jane Fallon

tell-me-a-secret-snippet.jpg

Extracts

Tell Me a Secret by Jane Fallon

literary-heroines-snippet-788×306.jpg

Jane Fallon’s 5 favourite heroines

Faking_Friends_snippet.jpg

Faking Friends by Jane Fallon

getting-rid-of-matthew-jane-fallon-788×306.jpg

Getting Rid of Matthew by Jane Fallon

jane-fallon-5-books.jpg

Jane Fallon on the books that influenced her writing

fallon_snippet.jpg

My Sweet Revenge by Jane Fallon

The gripping revenge comedy and Sunday Times bestseller 2023

Just Got Real

The hilarious and razor-sharp new novel from the million-copy bestselling queen of revenge comedy, Jane Fallon 
 
'Gripping, sharp and brilliantly twisty. Deliciously readable. A rollercoaster of revenge' DAILY MAIL 
'Her best yet! Ingenious and entertaining as ever but this book has a lot of WARMTH and HEART' MARIAN KEYES 
'Jane just keeps getting better and better. So smart, funny and warm' ADELE PARKS 
'Fabulous characters and a story that just will not let you go!' RUTH JONES 
_________ 
 
She's faked her profile picture. He's just a fake . . . 
 
When happily divorced Joni finds Ant via a dating app, neither is entirely honest about who they are. 
 
But when they meet in real life, they fall for each other. Soon they are a happy, steady item. Until Joni discovers Ant is still on the app, still dating other women . . . 
 
Having secret rivals devastates Joni. So she decides to take revenge. But not on them. 
 
Can she turn these rivals into allies to get back at the real enemy . . . Ant? 
_________ 
 
NO ONE CAN GET ENOUGH OF JUST GOT REAL . . . 
 
'This escapist gem is loud-snort funny' HEAT 
'Witty, smart, topical and full of heart' TAMMY COHEN 
'Wry observation and razor-sharp wit' SUNDAY EXPRESS 
'Funny, fresh and clever' CLARE MACKINTOSH 
'Her best yet! Especially gorgeous on female friendship' MARIAN KEYES 
'We drop everything for a Jane Fallon novel and this is one of her best' CLOSER 
'A brilliantly spiky read. Loved it' SAM BAKER 
'Another brilliant tale from best-selling author Jane Fallon' HELLO! 
'Seems to slip down like a glass of nicely chilled white wine' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 
'Witty, funny, beautifully written' CATHY KELLY 
'I loved it. The killer twist of the year. Totally brilliant' TONY PARSONS 
'Sharply observed, wickedly funny, with real depths of emotion' MILLY JOHNSON 
'Just Got Real is an absolute joy' JOANNA CANNON 
'A real page turner . . . Such a treat to read' ALICE FEENEY 
'Smart and funny' SUN 
 
*Just Got Real: Sunday Times bestseller January 2023*

I've read - and loved - ALL of Jane Fallon's books, but Just Got Real is her best yet! The plotting is as ingenious and entertaining as ever but this book has a lot of WARMTH and HEART. It's especially gorgeous on female friendship

We drop everything for a Jane Fallon novel and this is one of her best

Y'know when you find a book that you cannot wait to get back to, that you sneak time on your own with or cancel arrangements in order to read? Well this is one of those books. Had me gripped and spellbound. I kept saying to myself 'Just one more chapter'...and then a chapter later 'Okay, just one more'... I found it impossible to put down. Jane Fallon is SO good at human behaviour and what makes us tick. Fabulous characters and a story that just will not let you go! Loved it.

This escapist gem is loud-snort funny

Jane Fallon's wry observation and razor-sharp wit in this unputdownable page-turner will grab you from the first page and the action races along at breakneck speed. Best of all, this is a tale of female friendship - of three women who have nothing in common except their determination to turn the tables on a deceptive man.

Funny, fresh and clever...the perfect poolside read

Jane just keeps getting better and better. Her books are so smart, funny and warm. I really love her relatable characters, who appear fragile until they become warriors we cheer for

Witty, smart, topical and full of heart...the sun-lounger smash of the summer

Jane Fallon's wry observation and razor-sharp wit in this unputdownable page-turner will grab you from the first page and the action races along at breakneck speed. Best of all, this is a tale of female friendship

I whipped through Just Got Real by Jane Fallon in a single sunlounger session and howled with laughter . . . A tautly plotted story of betrayal and revenge, it's threaded with authentic characters and heartwarming friendship

Witty, funny, beautifully written and dotted with life's truths like sprinkles on a birthday cake

Sharply observed, wickedly funny, with real depths of emotion too. Absolutely unputdownable.

Her snappy, clever fiction . . . seems to slip down like a glass of nicely chilled white wine. Just Got Real - her 12th book - makes no exception . . . Fallon has a nose for distilling the zeitgeist and we are in The Tinder Swindler territory here

I'm a huge fan of this author's gripping, sharp and brilliantly twisty books, and I'm delighted to report that this latest is just as deliciously readable as the rest . . . A rollercoaster of revenge. I loved it

'I loved it. 
Jane Fallon's Just Got Real is one of those rare novels that brings both a tear to your eye and a chill to your heart. 
The set-up is glorious - a woman who joins a dating app with a fake photo meets a man whose photo is the only real thing about him. 
This is the great dating app novel, red in tooth and claw, full of secret lives and lies, the story of what we will do to find love - and how far we will go when that longing is cruelly betrayed. 
Just Got Real is a story of four vividly-drawn women and one horribly believable man, a novel about friendship and treachery that contains what must be the killer twist of the year. Totally brilliant.'

A smart and funny look at the pitfalls of online dating. It provides laugh-out-loud moments . . . I've read all Jane Fallon's books!

Jane is the absolute master of twisty, contemporary storytelling

Your writing makes the world a brighter place, [Jane Fallon]. Just Got Real is an absolute joy

A deliciously compelling story of romance and revenge. Just Got Real is intelligent, funny, and sharply observed. Be prepared to read in one sitting!

'I finally finished this BELTER of a read from Jane Fallon...It is FABULOUS - with such warmth and humour, and the usual dose of the dish that is best served cold. Just Got Real is the perfect summer read.'

A real page turner. I loved this addictive story about love, loss, revenge and friendship. Readers will be rooting for Joni and her friends, but my most favourite character was Tyson, the furious chihuahua! I love Jane's books and this one was such a treat to read

A brilliantly spiky read. Loved it

Another brilliant tale from best-selling author Jane Fallon

Another Fallonesque treat. Full of heart, humour and humanity. She's so good at tapping into the best and the worst in us. Fabulous

Funny, insightful, sharp, wicked, brilliant

Intelligent, edgy and witty

We adore Jane Fallon's novels, and this witty page-turner could be her best yet

Ingenious. Her eye for detail, compressed emotion and the absurdity that lurks beneath what people say to each other, is unerring. One of our very finest comic novelists

I LOVE her books. She always delivers a fabaliss read

Jane Fallon is the multi-award-winning television producer behind shows such as This Life, Teachers and 20 Things to Do Before You're 30. Her Sunday Times bestselling books - Getting Rid of Matthew, Got You Back, Foursome, The Ugly Sister, Skeletons, Strictly Between Us, My Sweet Revenge, Faking Friends, Tell Me a Secret, Queen Bee, Worst Idea Ever, Just Got Real and Over Sharing - have sold over a million copies in the UK.

Joni never thought she would try online dating. She's so nervous that she posts fake photos - but when she starts talking to Ant, who's desperate to meet her, she doesn't dare come clean. Instead, Joni finds a way to meet Ant without revealing her true identity. It's perfect, it works, and she's happy - until a few months in, Joni discovers she wasn't the only one being deceitful: on Ant's phone are intimate messages between him and two other women. 
 
Hurt and furious, Joni calls the women. They're angry. They want revenge. But how exactly will they get it?

What’s a little white lie between best friends?

Worst Idea Ever

A white lie never hurt anyone, right? . . . 
 
'Worst Idea Ever is SO GOOD! I read it in one mad gulp' MARIAN KEYES 
 'Emotionally intelligent and beautifully written' DAILY MAIL 
 'I loved Worst Idea Ever, possibly my favourite so far. Riveting' RUTH JONES 
 'I literally could not put this book down' 5***** READER REVIEW 
 'Funny, insightful, sharp, wicked, brilliant - Jane Fallon at her very best' MILLY JOHNSON 
________ 
 
Georgia is lying to her best friend Lydia. 
 
Just a little white lie - a fake Twitter account to support Lydia's struggling business. No harm meant. But maybe this wasn't Georgia's best idea ever. 
 
Because Lydia wants to confide in her new (fake) Twitter friend. About Georgia and her husband Nick, who might be having an affair. 
 
Georgia wants out. Except what if it's true? She needs to trick Lydia into revealing all. 
But there's another possibility. Lydia could be lying right back . . . 
 
Has Georgia's worst idea ever turned out to be Lydia's best idea ever? 
________ 
 
'The queen of the revenge novel' HEAT 
 
'I loved Worst Idea Ever. Another Fallonesque treat, possibly my favourite so far. Full of heart, humour and humanity. Great characters and a riveting story from the start. She's so good at tapping into the best and the worst in us. Fabulous' RUTH JONES 
 
'Friendship, jealousy, deceit and so much more - I didn't want it to end' 5***** READER REVIEW 
 
'This witty page-turner could be her best yet' CLOSER 
 
'Takes us on a deep dive into the emotionally murky waters which exist between protagonists Lydia and Georgia . . . I adored it' DAILY MAIL 
 
'Incredibly funny and original . . . fabulous' ADELE PARKS, Platinum Magazine 
 
'An addictive page turner about friendship and revenge . . . I loved it' ALICE FEENEY 
 
'We love everything Jane Fallon writes' BELLA 
 
Praise for Jane Fallon: 
 
'She always delivers a fabaliss read' Marian Keyes 
 
'Hugely compelling and unpredictable' Ruth Jones 
 
'Barbed, twisty and full of deliciously dry wit' Sunday Mirror 
 
'Compelling, edgy, beautifully written' Daily Mail

I loved Worst Idea Ever. Another Fallonesque treat, possibly my favourite so far. Full of heart, humour and humanity. Great characters and a riveting story from the start. She's so good at tapping into the best and the worst in us. Fabulous

Worst Idea Ever is SO GOOD! I read it in one mad gulp

Brilliant, gripping . . . Emotionally intelligent and beautifully written

We love everything Jane Fallon writes and this might be her best yet!

Fallon's trademark warmth and humour is very much to the fore with this tale of friendship gone badly wrong

Takes us on a deep dive into the emotionally murky waters which exist between protagonists Lydia and Georgia . . . I adored it

Ingenious. Her eye for detail, compressed emotion and the absurdity that lurks beneath what people say to each other, is unerring. Worst. Idea. Ever. strengthens her claim to be one of our very finest comic novelists

Funny, insightful, sharp, wicked, brilliant - Jane Fallon at her very best

Jane's talent lies in understanding human behaviour . . . Another winner. You won't regret it

Fallon constructs a nail-biting situation and has us turning the pages at speed . . . Fraught and fabulous, pacy and persuasive

A razor-sharp tale of friendship and secrets

Georgia and Lydia are so close they're practically sisters. 
 
So when Lydia starts an online business that struggles, Georgia wants to help her - but she also understands Lydia's not the kind to accept a handout. 
 
Setting up a fake Twitter account, Georgia hopes to give her friend some anonymous moral support by posing as a potential customer. 
 
But then Lydia starts confiding in her new internet buddy and Georgia discovers she doesn't know her quite as well as she thought. 
 
Especially when Lydia reveals a secret that could tear Georgia's marriage apart . . .

The hilarious novel from the author of FAKING FRIENDS

Queen Bee

THE HILARIOUS NEW SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND RICHARD &amp; JUDY SUMMER PICK FROM THE MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF FAKING FRIENDS AND TELL ME A SECRET 
 
'Absolutely masterly. Bliss' Heat 
 
'Had me turning the pages into the small hours' Louise Candlish 
_________ 
 
Welcome to The Close - a beautiful street of mansions, where gorgeous Stella is the indisputable Queen Bee . . . 
 
It is here that Laura, seeking peace and privacy after her marriage falls apart, rents a tiny studio. Unfortunately, her arrival upsets suspicious Stella - who fears Laura has designs on her fiancé, Al. 
 
When Laura stumbles on the big secret Al is hiding, suddenly Stella's perfectly controlled world, and Laura's future, are threatened. 
 
Taking a chance on beating Al at his own twisted game, these two former strangers are fast becoming friends. 
 
But has Laura forgotten that revenge always comes with a sting in the tail? 
_________ 
 
'Razor sharp and laugh-out-loud hilarious' Daily Express 
 
'Fabulously engaging' Daily Mail 
 
Why people can't get enough of Jane Fallon's books: 
 
 'Hugely compelling and unpredictable' Ruth Jones 
 
 'She always delivers a fabaliss read' Marian Keyes 
 
 'Brilliant, with completely unexpected twists' Gill Sims 
 
 'She's the queen of the revenge novel' Heat

Absolutely masterly. She turns her trademark wit and taste for the absurd to The Close . . . Bliss

Fallon's fun, fish-out-of-water tale is full of love-to-loathe characters and a fair few twists

It was unputdownable and such a joy to read!

Perfectly crafted with razor sharp wit, Queen Bee is utterly hilarious and deliciously wry

Fallon is a fabulously engaging writer who excels at counter-intuitive plot lines, creates believable protagonists who are as capable of bad behaviour as good . . . Blissful escapism - I adored it

Sharp and hilarious . . . had me turning the pages into the small hours

bestselling author of Our House and Those People

The brilliant Jane Fallon does it again. Queen Bee is a whip-smart, laugh-out-loud, feel-good kinda novel perfect to curl up on the sofa with

I love it. I thought it was whip-smart, sassy and gripping

Jane Fallon's wry observation and razor-sharp wit make for a compelling read

Razor sharp and laugh-out-loud hilarious . . . the perfect antidote to our troubled times

Compelling, addictive with effortless wit and bite - gloriously connecting

Absolutely loved Queen Bee. Brilliant characters, funny, addictive and very clever. The perfect book to lose yourself in

Typical Fallon, written with wit and an after-sting

With its edgy wit, this sharp tale is full of characters you'll love to hate

Sharp and hilarious. A perfect beach read

She's the queen of the revenge novel. Dramatic and engaging from the start, you won't want to put it down

Brilliant, with completely unexpected twists

Superbly taps into our inner Avenger. Hugely compelling and unpredictable

Compelling, edgy, beautifully written

I LOVE her books. She always delivers a fabaliss read

Barbed, twisty and full of deliciously dry wit, this is smart stuff to race through

This entertainingly twisty tale is populated with some enjoyably toxic characters

Jane Fallon is the multi-award-winning television producer behind shows such as This Life, Teachers and 20 Things to Do Before You're 30. Her Sunday Times bestselling books - Getting Rid of Matthew, Got You Back, Foursome, The Ugly Sister, Skeletons, Strictly Between Us, My Sweet Revenge, Faking Friends and Tell Me a Secret - have sold over a million copies in the UK

When Laura's marriage falls apart she needs to find a home for her and her daughter. And quickly. 
 
Welcome to The Close, a beautiful street of mansions, where Laura rents a tiny studio above a garage, and gorgeous Stella is the indisputable Queen Bee - who soon suspects Laura of having designs on her fiancé. 
 
But when Laura unearths the ghastly secret he is hiding, it threatens Stella's perfectly curated world as well as 
Laura's business and friendships. Unless she can befriend Stella and show her the truth about her soon-to-be husband. But she should know that revenge always comes with a sting in the tail . . .

Tell Me a Secret

FROM THE MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF FAKING FRIENDS AND MY SWEET REVENGE 
 
'Brilliant, with completely unexpected twists' Gill Sims, bestselling author of Why Mummy Drinks 
 
Is she your best friend, or your worst enemy? 
__________ 
 
Best friends Holly and Roz tell each other everything. 
 
So when Holly gets a shot at her dream job she assumes Roz will be waiting to pop the champagne. 
 
But is she just imagining things or is Roz not quite as happy as she should be? 
 
And now she thinks about it, a few things don't quite add up... 
 
Perhaps it was a mistake to tell Roz all her secrets. 
 
Because it takes two to tango. But only one to start a war... 
___________ 
 
'She's the queen of the revenge novel and Jane Fallon's done it again' Heat 
 
'Another winner from Jane Fallon' Hello! 
 
'Compelling, edgy, beautifully written . . . always a joy.' Daily Mail 
 
'It's FABALISS. I was SO GRIPPED' Marian Keyes on Faking Friends

Brilliant, with completely unexpected twists and the ending made me cry. I really enjoyed it!

She's the queen of the revenge novel and Jane Fallon's done it again. Dramatic and engaging from the start, this is the perfect winter read. You won't want to put it down

Fallon's best yet. Full of laugh-out-loud wit and mischief and some truly magical moments. I'm a big fan

bestselling author of The Perfectly Imperfect Woman

Fallon's compelling, edgy, beautifully written narratives paint vivid portraits of likeable, flawed protagonists placed in tricky emotional situations. Watching them as they navigate their way out of these is always a joy. This latest is no different. Here, she examines fake female friendship and what happens when it goes badly wrong

Fallon is a dab hand at capturing the toxicity of friendships gone bad, and this witty and waspish tale of workplace rivalries is a deliciously devious one . . . it will keep you turning the pages

Jane Fallon explores the darker side of female friendship while keeping a wry smile on her face. And her clever combination of comedy and unsettling suspense is likely to have you eyeing your workmates suspiciously over the office kettle

Holly is feeling on top of the world - celebrating a new promotion and dying to pop the champagne with her best friend Roz. But is Holly just imagining things, or is Roz - who supported her every step of the way - not as happy for her as she should be? 
 
Something about Roz's behaviour doesn't add up. And soon Holly has the sneaking suspicion that there's a target on her back. Has someone been playing dirty in a war Holly didn't know she was fighting? And is Roz more tangled up in this than she'll admit? 
 
Only one woman can be left standing - but will the best woman win?

Foursome

Foursome is the brilliantly witty novel from Jane Fallon, bestselling author of Getting Rid of Matthew. 
 
Rebecca, Daniel, Alex and Isabel have been best friends since university. Rebecca married Daniel, Alex married Isabel and, for twenty years, they have been inseparable. But all that is about to change... 
 
When Alex walks out on Isabel, Rebecca thinks things can't get any worse. But then she finds out the reason why and she's left harbouring a secret she'd rather forget... 
 
And there's more upheaval to come in Rebecca's life as her emaciated, neurotic, self-obsessed colleague, Lorna - her arch nemesis at work - suddenly becomes a regular feature in her social life. 
 
Rebecca's once-happy foursome is now a distant memory and with hearts broken and friendships fractured, it seems that change is never a good thing. Or is it? 
 
Praise for Jane Fallon: 
 
'Intelligent, edgy and witty' Glamour 
 
'A brilliant and original tale' Sun 
 
'Chick lit with an edge' Guardian

It's gripping stuff... it's no surprise that her (Fallon's) characterisation is spot-on, or that her plots are intricate and involved. This is a great, intelligent read and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Witty, well observed and free from chick-lit clichés, Foursome will have loved-up couples everywhere questioning just how close they really are.

Hardcore Jane Fallon fans can breathe a sigh of relief that she's penned yet another juicy novel ... this friend-cestuous love quadrangle might leave you a bit dizzy- from turning the pages so quickly!

This witty, grown up and well observed story about marriage, friendship and office politics is absolutely brilliant.

Rebecca, Daniel, Alex and Isabel have been best friends since university. Rebecca married Daniel, Alex married Isabel and, for twenty years, they have been inseparable. But all that is about to change... 
 
When Alex walks out on Isabel, Rebecca thinks things can't get any worse. But then she finds out the reason why and she's left harbouring a secret she'd rather forget... 
 
And there's more upheaval to come in Rebecca's life as her emaciated, neurotic, self-obsessed colleague, Lorna - her arch nemesis at work - suddenly becomes a regular feature in her social life. 
 
Rebecca's once-happy foursome is now a distant memory and with hearts broken and friendships fractured, it seems that change is never a good thing. Or is it?

The Sunday Times bestseller from the author of Worst Idea Ever

Faking Friends

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF WORST IDEA EVER 
 
'A deftly plotted, witty tale of revenge. It's a romcom with attitude' MAIL ON SUNDAY 
'A fabulous gossipy read' 5***** READER REVIEW 
_________ 
 
Best friend, soulmate . . . backstabber? 
 
Amy thought she knew everything about her best friend Melissa. 
 
And she also thought she was about to marry the man of her dream. 
 
Until she discovers he has been having an affair . . . and Melissa is The Other Woman. 
 
In one disastrous weekend she has lost her home, her fiancé and her best friend. 
 
But instead of falling apart, she is determined to get her own back . . . 
_____________ 
 
'It's FABALISS. I was SO GRIPPED' MARIAN KEYES 
 
'I couldn't put it down' 5***** READER REVIEW 
 
'Barbed, twisty and full of deliciously dry wit, this is smart stuff to race through' SUNDAY MIRROR 
 
'So many twists I didn't see coming' 5***** READER REVIEW 
 
'Brilliant, original, edgy and compulsively readable' DAILY MAIL 
 
SHORTLISTED FOR A NATIONAL BOOK AWARD &amp; LONGLISTED FOR THE COMEDY WOMEN IN PRINT PRIZE

Brilliant, original, edgy and compulsively readable

A deftly plotted, witty tale of revenge. It's a romcom with attitude - a perfect wicked pleasure to begin a new year of reading

I've just finished this . . . it's FABALISS. I was SO GRIPPED

You will tear through this gripping tale of love, betrayal and the importance of fighting back

Jane Fallon superbly taps into our inner Avenger. A hugely compelling and unpredictable story about what happens when friendship goes wrong. It had me gasping out loud on several occasions. I loved it and just couldn't put it down!

It's a deliciously wicked book and if you haven't read it . . . you should!

bestselling author of The Queen of Wishful Thinking

What a glorious, heartfelt and enlightening book!

bestselling author of Some Kind of Wonderful

Before long events are spiralling drastically out of control

I raced through Jane Fallon's delicious new page-turner about friends behaving badly. It's unpredictable and feisty, with a lead character that's a long way from the average romantic heroine

bestselling author of Summer Nights at the Moonlight Hotel

Deliciously devious . . . A darkly comic and addictive read

Fun and feisty women's fiction at its very best

Jane Fallon injects a smart edge into the chick-lit genre

Gripping stuff . . . A great, intelligent read

I love Fallon, she's in a category all of her own - her books are great fun and her characters are fabulous, believable women who take no nonsense

Best friend. Soulmate. Confidante. Backstabber. 
 
Amy thought she knew who Melissa was - then again, Amy also thought she was on the verge of the wedding of her dreams to her long-distance fiancé. When her career begins to unravel, she pays a surprise trip home to London. Her boyfriend Jack is out, but another woman has been making herself at home . . . And that Other Woman is Melissa. 
 
Amy has lost her job, her fiancé and her home in one disastrous weekend - but instead of falling apart she's determined to get her own back. Piecing her life back together won't be half as fun as dismantling theirs, after all.

Jane Fallon

Iris is happy: decent job, good friends, her own flat. Everything but her own family. She and her husband Tom were trying for a baby when he left her for his life coach, Maddy, four years ago. 
 
One day Iris' best friend Fay sends her an Instagram video of Maddy, now a successful family influencer with a huge following, posting wholesome videos with her husband Lee and their three-year-old twins. Tom is nowhere in sight. 
 
So what did Iris end her marriage for? Needing answers, she delves into Maddy's life. Just how much can you hide behind an online persona?

Jane Fallon

Over Sharing

Select a format:

Retailers:

Summary

More books from this author

Sign up to Jane's newsletter