Single Bald Female

By: Laura Price

Narrated by: Victoria Blunt

Length: 12 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Frank, funny and poignant, Single Bald Female by Laura Price is an unforgettable story of love, friendship, and embracing life after a shock diagnosis.

Jessica Jackson has hit all her personal milestones for turning thirty – the career, the loving boyfriend and a cosy London flat they share with their cat. But a breast cancer diagnosis turns Jess’s world upside down, and her contented life implodes with it.

Around her, her friends’ lives continue to follow the script, with the big white weddings and the baby scans. With her own future so uncertain, the only thing Jess is sure of is that she’s being left behind.

But then she meets Annabel, an enigmatic twenty-seven year old with incurable cancer. While Annabel may not have long left, she understands much more about living than anyone Jess has ever met. And she’s determined to show Jess how to make every day count....

©2022 Laura Price (P)2022 Macmillan Publishers International Limited

Critic reviews

"A triumph.... I laughed and wept. It’s an extraordinary novel and one everyone should read." (Alexandra Potter)

"Tender, funny and insightful. So good on friendship, love and the things that make our fragile lives worth living." (Rebecca Ley, author of For When I'm Gone)

"Life-affirming, tearjerking and gorgeously written.... An extraordinary, hugely moving story about the fight for survival." (Hannah Tovey, best-selling author of The Education of Ivy Edwards)

Refreshing and engaging

I loved reading this book. I’ve never read anything like it. I have a bizarre mix of stories that I’m into, this one has a blend of approachable characters that also makes you think and reflect. I often find that I think about a book after I have read it, more than during, but with this one I found it occupied my mind in a different way. I often paused and thought during reading because the narrative sparked thoughts all over the place that needed tending to in the moment. The author has an individual lens on life and the nature of dreams/desire, joy, and connection with others that is intensely meaningful without the need to draw on spirituality which I loved. Thoroughly enjoyable read. I also absolutely loved the intense feminist component of the story that depicted multiple capable women whose stories involved but isnt defined by the men in their lives. The story acknowledges their need for community without defining them by those relationships.

I didn’t want it to end

Wow, what can I say. As the book was nearing its end and I saw there was only 2 minutes left my heart started to beat fast. This book was just what I needed. Created a space to cry (for once not about me), a space to laugh (I’m lacking laughter in personal life, a moment to feel angry (but not angry about my situation), and to feel hope… which then permeated into hope for me.
This book is gorgeously written. It’s one that you can put down if you need and no it’s there or like me stay up until 3am listening.
Thank you for writing such a beautiful book. One that you wish the character is real and could follow on social media.