Are You Sitting Comfortably? “Pity Party” by Daisy Buchanan
We’re back! A new series of Are You Sitting Comfortably is on the horizon and Rebecca and I have some wonderful books and authors heading your way over the next couple of months.
I couldn’t be more excited to share September’s special guest with you. The one and only Daisy Buchanan.
Award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster, Daisy is not only the most wonderful writer but she’s also passionate reader and champion of books. Her books include the novels Insatiable (long listed for the CWIP prize), Careering (as heard on BBC Sounds) and Limelight, and the non-fiction titles How To Be A Grown Up and The Sisterhood. She hosts the Daisy Is…podcast series, and the chart-topping podcast You’re Booked, where she interviews legendary writers from all over the world about how their reading habits shape their work. Daisy has also appeared on a number of TV and radio shows including Woman’s Hour, The Today Programme, Soul Music, A Good Read, This Morning and Good Morning Britain.
As you can probably tell, I’m a huge fan. Daisy is the ultimate bookish babe. If that’s not all, she has a brilliant Substack where she hosts the Creative Confidence Clinic, a community for writers at every stage of their journey and shares everything from fiction tips and tricks in her Sunday Sessions with guest authors all the way through to a Dear Daisy slot where she dons an agony aunt hat and answers dilemmas of the artistic and creative kind.
Her latest novel Pity Party is hilarious, heartbreaking and utterly marvellous. As you’d expect, it has all of Daisy’s trademark warmth and humour. When it comes to capturing the messiness of life, Daisy is your writer. Pity Party is no exception – prepare to fall in love with a cast of chaotic and hugely funny characters.
“There’s no disaster that can’t be overcome with a brand new notebook and a pack of highlighters.”
Katherine is one of life’s planners. A girl who likes to live by the rules, tick all the boxes and prepare for the worst, even whilst hoping for the best. When the worst happens and she has to navigate life as a young widow, everything turns out to be not quite as she might have planned it. Grief isn’t all she’s feeling either. So, the idea of stopping, taking time for herself is the last thing she wants to do, with family, friends and even her bosses insisting that she needs to take some time for herself, she’s left with no other options than to face facts.
Head to a wellness retreat, they said.
Except this retreat isn’t the pity party Katherine was hoping for. Instead of massages, there’s erotic meditation. Looking for spa treatments, why not try scream therapy instead?
Katherine has never lost control in her life. In fact, she’s fairly certain that if she starts screaming, she might never stop. But she’s about to let go, and everyone had better stand back…
Flawed, complex, deeply moving and witty, Daisy Buchanan brings us a tale of grief and all its complexities. This is a story about learning how to stop playing it safe in a world that feels so dangerous – and showing up to the party, even when it feels impossible.
Join Rebecca and I as we chat to author Daisy Buchanan on Wed 25th September at 7pm live on Instagram. Bring the party poppers, this is one Pity Party you won’t want to miss.
