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Small Joys of Real Life

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( 1,686 ratings, 167 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Small Joys of Real Life by Allee Richards explores the intricacies of friendship, grief, and the search for meaning in ordinary moments. The story follows a young woman named Eva as she faces unexpected changes and discovers the subtle pleasures of everyday life. Set against the backdrop of Melbourne's vibrant culture, the novel delves into themes of connection, resilience, and the beauty found in life's quiet, often overlooked experiences.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3799
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to stories exploring the complexities of personal growth and the search for meaning amid life's unexpected challenges. Set against the backdrop of suburban life and featuring rich character development, it offers a poignant look at the struggles and small triumphs that define human experience.

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Small Joys of Real Life

A poignant and unpredictable debut from an exciting new literary talent. Shortlisted for both The Richell Prize for Emerging Writers and the Victorian Premier's Award for an Unpublished Manuscript, Small Joys of Real Life is Sally Rooney meets Helen Garner.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
LONGLISTED FOR THE MATT RICHELL AWARD FOR NEW WRITER OF THE YEAR, ABIA AWARDS 2022 'A painful, beautiful novel that is a welcome addition to Australia's growing crop of women-centred millennial fiction' Books + Publishing

The night Eva shared a smile with Pat, something started. Two weeks later, lying together in her bed, Pat said, 'You can't live your life saying you'll get around to doing something you know will make you happy. You just have to do it.'

Eva didn't know how devastating those words would turn out to be. Pat dies and the aftershock leaves Eva on unsteady ground. She is pregnant. And she has to make a choice.

Suddenly, the world that she at times already questionedβ€”her career, her roommates and friends, and life in the inner-cityβ€”are all even harder to navigate. Her best friends, Sarah and Annie, are also dealing with the shifts and changes of their late twenties, and each of them will at times let the others down.

Small Joys of Real Life is a poignant and unpredictable novel from an exciting new literary talent about how the life you have can change in an instant. It's about friendship, desire, loss, and growing up to accept that all you can do is be in the moment and look to find the joys in between.

'It's the little bursts of good in what could be described as a modern-millennial tragedy that makes Allee Richards' debut novel the poignant work that it is' The Guardian 'An exploration and, in many ways, celebration of the untidy years of young adult lives, and all the tragic and surprising loss, love, and wonder that entails' The Age 'Richards brilliantly navigates the trials and tribulations of your late twenties' ArtsHub

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Small Joys of Real Life is praised as a tender and perceptive debut novel. It beautifully captures the intricacies of relationships and personal growth, leading readers through a heartfelt narrative. The writing is often highlighted for its depth and emotional insight.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780733645471

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 July 2021

Country: Australia

Imprint: Hachette Australia

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 24.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 258.0mm

Weight: 374g

Pages: 304

About the Author

Allee Richards' short fiction has been published widely in Australian literary magazines and anthologies, including Kill Your Darlings, The Best Australian Stories, New Australian Fiction, Best Summer Stories, The Lifted Brow, Voiceworks and Australian Book Review. Her debut novel, Small Joys of Real Life, was shortlisted for the 2019 Richell Prize for Emerging Writers and the 2020 Victorian Premier's Literary Award for an Unpublished Manuscript. A Light in the Dark is her second novel. Allee lives in Melbourne and works as a theatre lighting technician.

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