Jo Platt

Happiness could be just around the corner… “…perfect setting, perfect dress, perfect flowers, one hundred and eight guests – and one, total and utter, rat.” Abandoned at the altar, Rosalind Shaw descends into the kind of depression which involves watching too much daytime TV and not bothering to shower as regularly as her mother would like. Relocating, she begins a new life at antiquarian bookshop “Chapters”. Here Ros finds herself working alongside the intellectual, and intensely private, Andrew; the kind-hearted, sartorially splendid, Georgina; and Joan, a free-spirited, loose cannon of a pensioner, with a penchant for amateur dramatics and outdoor nudity. But just when life might be starting to improve, Ros’ rather hairy neighbour, Daniel, knocks on her door with a bunch of flowers, a nervous grin and some rather distressing news… Reading Upside Down is funny, intelligent and fast-paced – a feel-good novel of mistaken assumptions and misread intentions; of feelings hurt and forgiveness.