Frances Whiting

'Tallulah de Longland,' she said slowly, letting all the Ls in my name loll about lazily in her mouth before passing judgement. 'That,' she announced, 'is a serious glamorgeous name.' From the day Annabelle Andrews sashays into her classroom, Tallulah 'Lulu' de Longland is bewitched: by Annabelle, by her family, and their sprawling, crumbling house tumbling down to the river. Their unlikely friendship intensifies through a secret language where they share confidences about their unusual mothers, first loves, and growing up in the small coastal town of Juniper Bay. Their lives become as entwined as Annabelle's initials engraved beneath the de Longland kitchen table. But the euphoria of youth rarely lasts, and the implosion that destroys their friendship leaves lasting scars and a legacy of self-doubt that haunts Lulu into adulthood. Years later, Lulu is presented with a choice: remain the perpetual good girl who misses out, or finally step out from the shadows and do something extraordinary. And possibly unforgiveable. It's not how far you fall, but how high you bounce.

Walking on Trampolines

'The Best Kind of Beautiful is the best kind of book: touching, funny, whimsical and mysterious! A special story about a delightful family.' Liane Moriarty A warm-hearted novel from the author of Walking on Trampolines about music, grief, relationships, gardens, love, laughter and family.Florence Saint Claire is a loner. Albert Flowers is a social butterfly. Good friends who think they know each other.But, somewhere between who they are, and who people think they are, lies The Best Kind of Beautiful.Award-winning journalist and author Frances Whiting brings her renowned warmth and empathy to this witty and gentle novel about bringing out the best in each other. PRAISE FOR THE BEST KIND OF BEAUTIFUL'There are moments when Frances Whiting writes about family dynamics and relationships where you wonder if the woman has a hidden camera set up inside your soul. On a single page she'll tickle your ribs with three laugh-out-loud gags then punch your gut with some deep observation on living. All heart. All soul. All kinds of beautiful.' Trent Dalton, author of Boy Swallows Universe'Florence, a fresh contemporary irresistible heroine, holds a cast of fascinating, brilliantly drawn characters together. Frances Whiting at her best, warm, witty, provocative, a wise observer of human nature, family, life...It's true, you can't put it down.' Quentin Bryce AD CVO'Will make your heart sing...Frances Whiting is a beautiful storyteller and she's assembled a lovely cast here. The best kind of summer read.' Herald Sun'Charming and full of feelgood moments, this is a perfect summer read about family, friendship and loss.' Who 'Exploring the unusual relationship between a lonely introvert and a social butterfly, The Best Kind of Beautiful touches on everything from music, grief and gardens to love and relationships.' Stellar'This is a truly delightful, lift-you-up novel that you won't want to put down.' Daily Telegraph'Whiting writes about the pulls and strains of romantic, familial and neighbourly dramas beautifully; there is emotion here but not of the synthetic saccharine variety. Her characters are relatable and empathetic.' Big Issue'The Best Kind of Beautiful is indeed one of those winsome works that charms the reader with its wry treatment of its small cast of players whose paths intersect and dovetail. The rom-com narrative between Florence and Albert, beset with the usual misunderstandings and missteps, is but one joy of this story. Aside from its easy wit and humour, there is a tenderness to the book as the author extends her ministrations to all those in need.' Weekend Australian

The Best Kind of Beautiful

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From the bestselling author of The Best Kind of Beautiful, Frances Whiting, comes an endearing, wise and witty novel of love and friendship, which asks, how far would you go, to protect your friends? In the summer of 1997, five high school students meet. Nina, the Good Girl. Beatrice, The Poetess. Harriet, the Ghost. Cosmo, the Professor. And Hunter, the Golden Boy. In their last year of school, they become inseparable, five sides of the same star, until a fault line cracks between them, scattering them to all corners of the globe. Now, fifteen years later, Hunter has called them with his conch shell lips to return to the place where they lived and laughed and cried together, before secrets were whispered, and promises were broken. No-one knows why he has assembled them, but there is no question they will go. Because to outsiders, they might be, in turns, a little bit weird, a little bit glamorous, and a little bit dangerous. But to each other, they are, and always will be, The Nocturnals. From bestselling author Frances Whiting comes an irresistible, witty, darkly delightful and utterly endearing novel of friendship - and the lengths we will go to protect those who we love. PRAISE FOR The Nocturnals: 'A new Frances Whiting novel is always a cause for celebration! Frances writes page-turning stories filled with warmth, wit, wisdom and charm. One of my favourite Australian writers.' Liane Moriarty, New York Times Bestselling author of Here One Moment 'Frances Whiting writes friendship with such warmth and precision it made my heart ache in the very best way. I fell in love with these characters - and when I finished the novel, I immediately wanted to ring every friend I adore. The Nocturnals glows with tenderness. It's a witty, soulful story about the families that shape us, the families we choose, and the version of ourselves that surface in the private hours after midnight.' Sally Hepworth, New York Times bestselling author of Mad Mabel 'The Nocturnals is witty, luminous and frankly, irresistible. Think The Breakfast Club meets The Great Gatsby - clever, funny, and impossible to put down. I'm calling it as one of the best reads of 2026.' - Rebecca Sparrow, Birds of a Feather Book Club 'From the first page, I knew I was in the hands of a master. Frances weaves the threads of her characters' stories together with such effortless clarity, that I found myself kicking my little feet in bed with anticipation of every next page. I'm bereft that the book is over, and nostalgic for friends that I wish were mine.' Astrid Astrid Jorgensen, Founding Director Pub Choir

The Nocturnals: An endearing and witty novel of love and friendship from the bestselling author of The Best Kind of Beautiful

Es spielt keine Rolle, wie tief du fällst, sondern wie hoch du springst ... Als Lulu an einem Morgen im August die Augen aufschlägt, liegt er neben ihr: Joshua – wunderschön und ihr so vertraut wie kein anderer Mann. Es ist der Tag nach der Hochzeit, doch hat Joshua nicht Lulu sein Ja-Wort gegeben, sondern ihrer besten Freundin Annabelle ... Einst waren die beiden Frauen unzertrennlich – bis eine bittere Enttäuschung Lulus Vertrauen und ihren Glauben an die große Liebe zutiefst erschütterte. Doch auch wenn das Leben manchmal herbe Rückschläge bereithält: Was wirklich zählt, sind Familie, Freundschaft und die unbezahlbaren Momente des Glücks!

Frances Whiting

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