Told with Kathy Lette's razor-sharp wit, this is a funny, quirky and tender story of a mother's love for her son - and of a love affair that has no chance of running smoothly.
Meet Merlin. He's Lucy's bright, beautiful son - who just happens to be on the spectrum.
Since Merlin's father left them in the lurch, Lucy has made Merlin the centre of her world. Struggling with the joys and tribulations of raising her adorable yet challenging child (if only Merlin came with operating instructions), Lucy doesn't have room for any other man in her life.
By the time Merlin turns ten, Lucy is seriously worried that the Pope might start ringing her up for tips on celibacy, so resolves to dip a toe back into the world of dating. Thanks to Merlin's candour and quirkiness, things don't go quite to plan...
Then, just when Lucy's resigned to singledom once more, Archie - the most imperfectly perfect man for her and her son - lands on her doorstep. But then, so does Merlin's father, begging for a second chance. Does Lucy need a real father for Merlin - or a real partner for herself?
About the Author
Kathy Lette is a celebrated and outspoken comic writer who has an inimitable take on serious current issues.
She is one of the pioneering voices of contemporary feminism, paving the way for Caitlin Moran and Lena Dunham. She first achieved succès de scandale as a teenager with the novel Puberty Blues, which was made into a major film and a TV mini-series.
After several years as a newspaper columnist and TV sitcom writer in America and Australia, she’s written 11 international bestsellers in her characteristic witty voice, including Mad Cows, How to Kill Your Husband- and Other Handy Household Hints (staged by the Victorian opera) and The Boy Who Fell to Earth.
She is known for her regular appearances on BBC and Sky news programmes. She is an ambassador for Women and Children First, Plan International, the White Ribbon Alliance and the NAS. Kathy Lette lives in London with her husband, her autistic son (the actor Julius Robertson) and daughter, and can often be found at The Savoy drinking a cocktail named after her.
Kathy is an autodidact (a word she taught herself), but has honorary doctorates from Southampton Solent and Wollongong Universities and a Senior Fellowship from Regent’s College.
