The Couple

The must-read romcom with a difference

Helly Acton author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Zaffre

Published:27th May '21

Currently unavailable, our supplier has not provided us a restock date

The Couple cover

If society's views on relationships were different and the norm was to be single, would you risk everything for love?

No, Millie is more than happy with her conventional single life.

So, when Millie lands a new project at work, launching a pill that prevents you falling in love, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime.

The author of The Radio 2 Book Club Pick The Shelf returns with a new hilarious, thought-provoking and funny novel.

'Genius, funny and thought-provoking. 5 stars' Carrie Hope Fletcher

'Helly's writing is filled with such humour and warmth, it makes me laugh and think whilst seamlessly tackling complex ideas about modern society. What a triumph!' Abigail Mann

'So clever, so thought-provoking, I loved it' Sophie Cousens

'A fresh, funny, razor-sharp take on society's views of relationships. It's feminist, it's provocative and a total joy to read' Hannah Tovey

'Funny and clever. I loved every single line' Lucy Vine

Millie is a perfectionist. She's happy, she's successful and, with a great support network of friends and family (and a very grumpy cat), she's never lonely. She loves working at a big tech firm and is on track be promoted to her dream role. The last thing she needs is romance messing up her perfectly organised world.

Besides, normal people just don't have romantic relationships. Everyone knows that being in a couple is a bit . . . well, odd. You know, like having a pet snake or referring to yourself in the third person. Why rely on another person for your own happiness? Why risk the humiliation of unrequited love or the agony of a break-up? No, Millie is more than happy with her conventional single life.

So, when Millie lands a new project at work, launching a pill that prevents you falling in love, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. That is, until she starts working with Ben. He's charming and funny, and Millie feels an instant connection to him.

Will Millie sacrifice everything she believes in for love?

Look out for Helly's debut novel The Shelf.

The Couple is the book I will say, from here on out, I wish I'd written. The concept is genius and the writing is funny and thought-provoking. I don't usually give books ratings but when it's a 5 star, it's a 5 star * Carrie Hope Fletcher *
Warm, witty and thought-provoking * Abbie Greaves author of The Silent Treatment *
I inhaled the book in less than twenty-four hours. Helly has absolutely smashed it once again. The Couple is funny, smart and thought-provoking, and so clever in the way it turns so many of our assumptions about love and relationships on their head * Freya Sampson *
So clever, so thought-provoking, I loved it * Sophie Cousens *

The Couple is a fresh, funny, razor-sharp take on society's views of relationships that will have you screaming "YES!" and "OMG she's talking about me!" on every page.

Helly's got that brilliant knack of hooking you in from the moment you open the book, with utterly relatable characters and dialogue that sizzles. It's feminist, it's provocative and it was a total joy to read

* Hannah Tovey *

ISBN: 9781838773847

Dimensions: 240mm x 162mm x 36mm

Weight: 629g

400 pages