The Back Up Man

By: Phoebe Luckhurst

Narrated by: Cathleen McCarron

Brought to you by Penguin.

They made a pact to marry at thirty.

The problem? Euan's nowhere to be found.

Can Anya track down her back up man...?

Shortly after her 29th birthday, Anya Mackie finds herself single, homeless and jobless. Well-meaning friends and family rally round, but she's soon stuck in a flatshare with Cold Claire and Weird Richard, and babysitting Glasgow's most unappealing twins.

But when Anya stumbles on the pact she made with high school crush, Euan Carrick, where they promised to marry if they were still single at thirty, she thinks it's a lifeline. Until Anya discovers that Euan hasn't been seen for a decade.

Grudgingly accepting the help (and car!) of handsome-but-emotionally-unavailable Jamie Kildare - another blast from Anya's past, with his own mysterious reasons for tracking down their old school pal, the pair set off across the country to find Anya's back-up-man.

In the age of social media and blue ticks, how could Euan have disappeared?

Will he even remember their pact?

And are some things just better left in the past...?

The Back Up Man is a hilariously romantic tale of mishaps and matrimony, love and long shots, foibles and friendship, that may make you text that old school boyfriend of yours...

©2023 Phoebe Luckhurst (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Entertaining, endearing, and truly unique. Found myself wincing and laughing with familiarity." (Emma Gannon)

"The year's most original rom-com." (Elle)

"Hilarious." (Evening Standard)