Graffiti Girls

A sharp, empowering novel about a group of women who refuse to go quietly when society tells them they're no longer valuable beyond the age of 40, from the author of Ginger and Me.

Shortlisted for the Saltire Society's Scottish First Book of the Year Award 2023

'A rebellious and uplifting tale of punkish, middle-aged, feminist defiance' Lucy Ribchester

***'***A delicious tale of female rebellion and a glorious tribute to female friendship. Warm, funny, and uplifting' Caron McKinlay

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Amy, Carole, Lenore and Susan have been best friends since school. Back then they couldn't wait for the future, for the amazing lives they'd have.

But things haven't worked out how they expected. Now in their forties, they're fed up with being taken for granted by their families, being passed over for promotions at work and being told that they're past their best. And they're not going to go quietly anymore.

Fuelled by female rage and their charismatic leader Amy, the four embark on a campaign of graffiti in their hometown of Hamilton, scrawling feminist slogans on the walls of local buildings.

But is Hamilton ready for the feminist revolution the Graffiti Girls have in store?

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Praise for Graffiti Girls:

'Graffiti Girls is a sharply observed and thought-provoking cri de coeur about everyday sexism. It is the uplifting story of a group of women re-setting their lives and re-discovering their purpose during mid-life crises extraordinaire - a tale told with passion and verve' Catherine Simpson, author of One Body

'A fiery, funny and fierce feminist read that packs an emotional punch, Graffiti Girls explores big themes with empathy, insight and grace. I miss spending time with these characters' Emma Styles, author of No Country for Girls

'Stingingly observed, expertly executed, Graffiti Girls is a laugh-out-loud, relatably painful, feminist rage-induced tour de force' Claire Wilson, author of Five by Five

'Graffiti Girls drips with feminine rage, a story for any woman of a certain age who's ever felt invisible.' My Weekly, Books to Read in 2025

The humorous stories of the Graffiti Girls, as they navigate their mid-life crises, are a testament to Elissa Soave's ability to weave tales of defiance and rebellion. Their political graffiti campaign, a top trending topic in their hometown, is a bold statement against the invisibility they've felt in their forties.

For fans of Fran Hill (Cuckoo in the Nest), Jennie Godfrey (The List of Suspicious Things), Beth O'Leary (Swept Away), Gabrielle Zevin (Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow), and S G Maclean (The House of Lamentations).

HarperCollins 2025