{"product_id":"the-unexpected-joy-of-being-single-by-catherine-gray-9781912023813","title":"The Unexpected Joy of Being Single","description":"* 'This refreshing, unusual book needs to exist. A culture shift which repositions a single person as someone who is relationship-free, complete, and not lacking is long overdue.' - \u003ci\u003eThe i *\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eHaving a secret single freak-out? Feeling the red, heart-shaped urgency intensify as the years roll on by? Oh hi! You're in the right place.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eOver half of Brits aged 25-44 are now single. It's become the norm to remain solo until much later in life, given the average marriage ages of 35 (women) and 38 (men). Many of us are choosing never to marry at all. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBut society, films, song lyrics and our parents are adamant that a happy ending has to be couple-shaped. That we're incomplete without an 'other half'*, like a bisected panto pony. Cue: single sorrow. Dating like it's a job. Spending half our lives waiting for somebody-we-fancy to text us back. Feeling haunted by the terms 'spinster' or 'confirmed bachelor.'\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCatherine Gray took a whole year off dating to find single satisfaction. She lifted the lid on the reasons behind the global single revolution, explored the bizarre ways cultures single-shame, detached from 'all the good ones are gone!' panic and debunked the myth that married people are much happier.\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eLet's start the reverse brainwash, in order to locate - and luxuriate in - single happiness. Are you in?\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e*Spoiler: you're already whole\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003ePRAISE FOR CATHERINE GRAY'S WRITING:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Fascinating.\" Bryony Gordon.\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Not remotely preachy.\" \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Jaunty, shrewd and convincing.\" \u003ci\u003eThe Telegraph \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Admirably honest, light, bubbly and remarkably rarely annoying.\" \u003ci\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Truthful, modern and real.\"\u003ci\u003e Stylist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Brave, witty and brilliantly written.\" \u003ci\u003eMarie Claire\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Haunting, admirable and enlightening.\"\u003ci\u003e The Pool \u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47363194454252,"sku":"9781912023813","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/20992413482868.jpg?v=1772918246","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/products\/the-unexpected-joy-of-being-single-by-catherine-gray-9781912023813","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}