Books

Recipe for Scandal

Hannah, Alberta and Philippa are about to receive a very nasty surprise. Twenty-three year old Hannah has a great job in London and a gorgeous boyfriend.

Her mother, Alberta, lives in Bath with her record-producer partner and has a thriving catering business. Alberta's mother, Philippa, lives in a Hampshire village with her celebrated husband, a peer of the realm and a former Government minister.

When a torrent of tabloid headlines engulfs the family in a horribly public scandal, it becomes apparent that the lives of the three women will never be the same again.

Praise for Recipe for Scandal

'...This brilliant and witty book by Debby Holt is sure to keep you entertained.' OK

'...Fun, romantic and full of surprises, this is perfect winter reading.' Closer

'...An enjoyable read with a splash of mystery.' Woman

'...Will Alberta's family survive? You'll be dying to find out.' Heat

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Love Affairs for Grown-Ups

Love Affairs for Grown-Ups comes out on January 5, 2009. It tells the story of Katrina and Cornelius who are increasingly drawn to each other despite a disastrous first meeting. Katrina's sister warns that 'A man over forty is always going to have secrets he'd rather you didn't know about.'

But Katrina has secrets too and with the added complication of difficult teenagers and former lovers, it looks as if the past is all set to torpedo the present.

I wanted to write a novel about the problems facing people embarking on new relationships in their forties. In particular, I was interested by the fact that the past can often play havoc with the present. I have to admit that I did rather fall in love with Cornelius while I was writing this.

Praise for Love Affairs for Grown-Ups

'...the hilariously witty and wonderfully engaging fourth novel by the fabulous Debby Holt.' Singletitles.com

'...the hilarious and touching new romantic comedy from the bestselling author of The trouble with Marriage.' Lovereading.co.uk

Debby won a CataNetwork Reviewers' Choice award for 2009 from Singletitles.com for Love Affairs for Grown-Ups.

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The Ex-Wife’s Survival Guide

Published in England by Simon & Schuster U.K, in Germany by Rowohlt, in Holland by Unieboek, in the U.S.A by Simon & Schuster U.S.A., in Lithuania by Alma Littera. Published as an audio book by the BBC.

The Ex-Wife’s Survival Guide follows the trials and tribulations of Sarah Stagg who lives in a village with her husband, the good-looking star of the local amateur dramatic society and her twin sons; they are about to leave home for six months of gap year travel. Sarah’s husband is about to leave home too. He has fallen in love with his latest leading lady, a woman who is sixteen years younger than Sarah. Sarah is alone for the first time in twenty years. Her friends are on hand to encourage her attempts to cope with her new life. Some of these attempts are less successful than others. Is it wise to join the amateur dramatic society and take on the role of a twenty year old bride when you’re a newly single forty-two year old? Should she take into her home a psychopathic hound from hell? Is it sensible to go to Mallorca and have her first ever one-night stand? Sarah will soon find out.

Why I wrote this book

Over the years I’ve watched friends fall in love and get married. Unfortunately, some of them have fallen out of love and got divorced. I have often been struck by what I call the Revisionist History Phenomenon. In particular, I can think of three men I know who fell in love with much younger women and each told their then wives that they realized they had never really loved them. In each case, I know this wasn’t true because I’ve known them for donkeys’ years and can remember them being well and truly smitten. My conclusion was that those three husbands could only justify their actions to themselves by re-writing their personal history.

Meanwhile their discarded wives lost all their confidence and assumed they were the dullest and ugliest women on the planet. Then – and this was what I wanted to write about – they began to discover they weren’t.

Praise for The Ex-Wife’s Survival Guide

‘As funny as it is wise…I absolutely loved this book.’ Katie Fforde

‘A wickedly comical read’ Heat Magazine

‘Feel-good comedy about moving on’ The Mail On Sunday

‘A touching romantic comedy that finishes on such a wonderfully liberating note that you want to stand and cheer. Bravo! Encore!’ Australian Women’s Weekly Review

The Ex-Wife's Survival Guide was a Bookseller Heatseeker

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Annie May’s Black Book

Published as an audio book by the BBC. Published in England by Simon & Schuster U.K, in Germany by Rowohlt

Annie May’s Black Book is about Annie May who collects grudges like other people collect stamps. She has a black book in which she records the names and transgressions of all those who have ever offended her. The biggest offender of them all is Ben Seymour. Seventeen years ago, he jilted her half an hour before their wedding was due to start. As a direct result, Annie left her job, her friends and her family to start a new life on her own. Now, seventeen years later, he’s moving in round the corner…

Why I wrote this book

I am interested in the idea of forgiveness. I am interested in the idea of forgiveness because I am really bad at forgiving. I have a terrible memory and yet I can remember every bad thing that anyone has ever done or said to me. When I started writing this I wanted to find the answer to certain questions: what could make an otherwise decent man jilt his girlfriend on the morning of their wedding? Could a woman who collects grudges like other people collect stamps ever forgive a man who did that to her? Should she forgive a man who did that?

Praise for Annie May’s Black Book

‘ Even better than The Ex-Wife’s Survival Guide.’ The Bookseller

‘A brilliantly funny, witty and oh-so-wise tale!’ Star Magazine

‘Laced with wise and witty humour…’ Woman Magazine

‘From the author of The Ex-Wife’s Survival Guide, comes another wicked treat.’ The Daily Mirror

Annie May's Black Book was a Bookseller Heatseeker

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The Trouble With Marriage

This came out in January 2008 and deals with a very contemporary problem. Why do marriages fail? How can two people fall in love with such passion and commitment only to split up a few years later on a tide of bitterness and venom?

Is marriage an impossible institution and if so why do some marriages appear to succeed? Was William Congreve right when he wrote that, ‘ Courtship to marriage is as a very witty prologue to a very dull play.’ ?

Read my book and find out!

Praise for The Trouble With Marriage

‘Another astute look at relationships’ The Bookseller

‘Debby Holt's enjoyable third novel’ Heat Magazine

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