For several months Marnie, a middle-aged poet and mother, has experienced sightings of her long-dead identical twin sister, Perdita, across London. As a consequence, and due to her crippling writer's block, she has sought the help of octogenarian Harley Street shrink, Schlap, to work through her problems. Not least her repeated dreams of being a man.

Schlap has problems of his own though, having recently suffered a silent stroke which has affected his memory. Or is he more aware of reality than Marnie herself?

Marnie's long-suffering partner and their three teenage kids are not helping matters, either. Neither is Marnie's bohemian Alpha-course attending mum, her diabetic chef dad, nor the inquisitive family dog. Perhaps Marnie's encounter and blossoming friendship with a woman who she thinks is the living embodiment of long-dead author Katherine Mansfield will provide the key to unlock her mind.Will Marnie's writing be liberated from its prison? Is she losing her mind? Will the price she has to pay be bigger than the sum of its parts? And does the previous sentence even make sense? All will be revealed...


A really entertaining, funny, heartfelt read. I loved every bonkers minute - Sophie Ward

It is magical, nostalgic, current, imaginative, tragic and very funny. I devoured it in two sittings. I saw nothing coming and was surprised and thrilled by the outcome - Maureen Lipman

It made me cry and laugh. The relationships and dialogue are brilliant. Hilarious - a wild and moving menopausal Alice in Wonderland - Indira Varma

The first book about psychoanalysis to be laugh-out-loud funny; a charming, hilarious tangle of art, grief, memory and the mundane details of everyday life. Wise's Marnie will win your heart - whether or not she wants it is another matter entirely - Emma Szewczak, author of THE OFFSET

An exploration of grief and what it means to loose ones grip on reality wrapped around a hilarious portrait of a vivid and dysfunctional family. I ripped through this unusual, interesting and delightfully off-kilter novel - Kate Sawyer, author of THE STRANDING

I love Susannah's writing. Her understanding of human behaviour in all its complexities, humour, and tragedy is second to none. Loved it - Tracey-Ann Oberman

Hilarious, moving, original, and relevant. I hoovered it up. Wise has triumphed with this glorious second novel - Katherine Parkinson

A runaway train of a novel, taking the reader on a grand tragi-comic ride - Dame Rose Tremain

Funny, emotional, sad, and so, so honest. It's about love, family, grief, longing, and the crazy turmoil of living with all of them. Highly recommended - Bethany Clift, author of LOVE AND OTHER HUMAN ERRORS

About the Author

Susannah Wise is an actor and writer who grew up in London and the Midlands. A childhood spent outdoors inspired her love of nature and tree climbing. The death of her father in 2015 was the catalyst for THIS FRAGILE EARTH. His preoccupation with astronomy and the beauty of the night sky formed the jumping-off point for the story. Susannah studied at the Faber Academy, graduating in September 2018, during which time she wrote a second, more peculiar novel. Both books have been longlisted for the Mslexia prize.
She lives in London with her partner and son.

Reviews
The quirky gem ... Witty and weird with shades of Where'd You Go Bernadette * GRAZIA Summer Reads *
A brilliant, touching read ... wildly funny * Woman's Own *
A runaway train of a novel, taking the reader on a grand tragi-comic ride * Rose Tremain *
Absolutely raced through it. Funny, emotional, sad, and so, so honest. It's about love, family, grief, longing, and the crazy turmoil of living with all of them. Highly recommended * Bethany Clift, author of Last One at the Party *
An exploration of grief and what it means to loose ones grip on reality wrapped around a hilarious portrait of a vivid and dysfunctional family. I ripped through this unusual, interesting and delightfully off-kilter novel! -- Kate Sawyer, author of THE STRANDING
It made my cry and laugh. The relationships and dialogue are brilliant. Hilarious - a wild and moving menopausal Alice in Wonderland * Indira Varma *
Ok Then That's Great is fantastic. From the first page I knew it was "it". The themes!!!! Literally everything I'm interested in contained therein - art, grief, memory, psychoanalysis, the ridiculous details of real life. An actually FUNNY thinking woman, hallelujah!!! I loved Marnie. I loved her innerlife and its relationship to her outerlife. I loved the questions she's dealing with and how she's dealing with them. In an odd way, the book made me think of Charlotte Mendleson here and AS Byatt there, but I'm not sure who I'd compare your precise blend of tragicomedy to because honestly I haven't quite read anyone like Marnie before. I also felt that you handled provocative subjects incredibly well - with the right blend of sensitivity and humanity. The first book about psychoanalysis to be laugh-out-loud funny; a charming, hilarious tangle of art, grief, memory and the mundane details of everyday life. Wise's Marnie will win your heart - whether or not she wants it is another matter entirely. * Emma Szewczak, author of THE OFFSET *
I love Susannah's writing. Her understanding of human behaviour in all its complexities, humour, and tragedy is second to none. Loved it. -- Tracey-Ann Oberman



Book Information
ISBN 9781473232372
Author Susannah Wise
Format Hardback
Page Count 320
Imprint Gollancz
Publisher Orion Publishing Co
Weight(grams) 527g
Dimensions(mm) 236mm * 156mm * 36mm