Three barely felt like a family. It felt like it did not count. Like we were unfinished. Incomplete. There was always a gap at the table, room to set places for others. Visitors were few and far between. Mostly, there was only me.

Only is a painfully honest and entertaining story of an unconventional childhood. It reveals what it feels like to be an only child and the focal point of two people damaged by trauma and tragedy, and the courage it takes to break free from the past and the pull of its secrets.

Caroline Baum's poignant and gripping memoir is for anyone who has felt the pressure of being at the fulcrum of a seesaw, the focus of all eyes and expectations - torn between love and fear, obedience and rebellion, duty and the longing to escape. In exploring what being a Good Daughter means and why it can be so difficult, Only uncovers truths that offer readers deep emotional insight.

About the Author
Caroline Baum is a respected journalist and presenter. She has worked for the BBC, ABC, Time Life Books, Vogue magazine (UK and Australia), was the founding editor of Good Reading magazine and the Editorial Director of Booktopia. She has been a judge of the Stella Prize, the Ned Kelly and Kibble Awards. She is in demand as a presenter at Writers Festivals across Australia and has interviewed many of the world's top international authors. Her writing has been published in major national publications and online media.

Reviews
An unflinchingly honest exploration of what it takes to be a good daughter, with a heart-melting scoop of ice cream. -- Elizabeth Gilbert
A rich and rollicking tale that deepens into the tenderest of daughterly tributes. -- Helen Garner
A conflicted love letter to her European origins and the uncrushable spirit of her glamorous, at times difficult parents, this lyrical page turner made me laugh and made me weep. -- Magda Szubanski
A vivid and moving account of life as an only child: there's glamour in this world but terrors aplenty. -- Richard Glover
Only is a wild and deeply felt tale. With her unflinching gaze, Caroline Baum explores the inheritance of being an 'only', contrasting an exotic cast of the glamorous and the famous with her unconventional, often solitary childhood. -- Ailsa Piper



Book Information
ISBN 9781760293970
Author Caroline Baum
Format Paperback
Page Count 384
Imprint Allen & Unwin
Publisher Allen & Unwin
Weight(grams) 510g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 155mm * 30mm