OPTIMISTS DIE FIRST

🇬🇧 Description:

Ever since tragedy struck her family, Petula has learned to see danger everywhere - whether it's crossing the road or eating a poached egg. Petula's determined not to let her guard down, even if this means allowing herself to be ruled by anxiety and grief, and losing her best friend. Then Jacob walks into her therapy group. Strikingly tall and confident, he's survived a different kind of disaster and still come out smiling. At first Petula is repelled by his optimism, yet even she can't deny their chemistry together. But optimism is blind - and so is love. What will happen if Petula gives in to both?

Reviews:

Susin Nielsen has produced a richly comic story featuring a cast of mismatched, engaging characters —Marilyn Brocklehurst, Guardian, The Best New Children's Books supplement 

Grief and guilt permeate Nielsen's empathic and deeply moving story, balanced by sharply funny narration and dialogue. —Publishers Weekly, starred review 

Nielsen writes with sensitivity, empathy, and humour —Kirkus, starred review 

 Nielsen has such a gift for creating authentic teenagers... Infused with offbeat humour, this is a book with a great voice and a big, big heart — Fiona Noble, The Bookseller