Jessica Dettmann

"Molly's a millennial home organiser about to have her first baby. Obviously her mum, Annie, will help with the childcare. Everyone else's parents are doing it. But Annie's dreams of music stardom have been on hold for thirty-five years, paused by childbirth then buried under her responsibilities as a mother, wage earner, wife, and only child of ailing parents. Finally, she can taste freedom. As Molly and her siblings gather in the close quarters of the family home over one fraught summer, shocking revelations come to light. Everyone is forced to confront the question of what it means to be a family."--Publisher.

This Has Been Absolutely Lovely

A hilarious and heartwarming novel about the complicated, messy, delightful struggles of modern life, for all fans of Marian Keyes, Holly Wainwright and Zoe Foster Blake. Going from one child to two is never all that easy for a family, but when Emma's husband simultaneously fathers a third child three doors up the street, things get very tricky, very fast. No longer is it enough for Emma to be the best wife and mother - now she's trying to be the best ex-wife, and the best part-time parent to her ex's love child, and that's before she even thinks about adding a new bloke to the mix. Set in an upwardly mobile, ultra-competitive suburb, this is a funny, biting, heartwarming modern comedy that looks at the roles we play, how we compete, and what happens when we dare to strive for second-best. 'Hilarious, heartwarming [and] all too relatable ... Ultimate summer read' Herald Sun 'Sharp and crisp and funny. I was dazzled.' Mia Freedman 'A refreshing and honest depiction of the delirium of modern family life ... while it is undeniably laugh-out-loud funny, it is also incredibly heartwarming and real' Better Reading 'Heartwarming yet biting' Sunday Telegraph 'Full of funny moments, this debut takes a wry look at parenthood, divorce and the messy reality of blended families. ****' Who Weekly 'Jessica Dettmann is a fine comic writer. She has an eye for the small details, irritations and inspirations of life which coupled with a truly original turn of phrase and great way with a gag makes for sparkling and heartwarming reading.' Ben Elton

How to Be Second Best

Can a modern woman take lessons in love from Shakespeare? Beth O'Leary meets 10 Things I Hate About You in this sparkling romantic comedy from beloved Aussie author Jessica Dettmann. 'Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more. Men were deceivers ever ...' Since she was sixteen, Willa's curious touchstone in life and work has been the 1993 film Much Ado About Nothing. She's always looking for The Feeling, the stirring in her heart - and loins - that she gets when watching the opening scenes. Now she's navigating her mid-thirties, her career as a romance publisher in an unusual family business, and her determination to remain child-free, while quietly holding out for a love as big as Beatrice and Benedick's. But when relationships start to get complicated between Willa, her cousin Imogen and the four sons of the family she works for, and the events of her own life begin to mirror the plot of her beloved comedy, Willa must consider whether there is such a thing as too much ado. A delightfully Shakespearean romantic comedy about modern love, women's roles and how the films and stories we grow up with shape us. 'Without Further Ado has genuine heart, proper out-loud laughs, and a perfect not-too-Hollywood ending. Dettmann has created a one-off in her protagonist, Willa. Smart as a whip, fiercely independent, hilarious, loyal, fearful and self-sabotaging, she's a romantic heroine for our times (whilst having one foot planted in the late 1500s!).' Tim Minchin 'Glorious, full of laughs, love and realness. I loved it so much I want to live between the covers.' Sacha Horler Praise for Jessica Dettmann: 'Sharp and crisp and funny. I was dazzled' Mia Freedman 'Heartwarming yet biting' Sunday Telegraph 'A totally engaging and disarmingly charming writer' Kathy Lette 'Sparkling and heartwarming reading' Ben Elton 'Dettmann is such a clever writer - her imagery is fresh and hilarious and her take on life is so dry and funny' Cassie Hamer

Without Further Ado

Family is forever, and there's nothing you can do about it. The charming, hilarious and all-too-relatable new novel from the author of How to be Second Best 'Dettmann nails the funny, sad and bizarre nuances of family life in this gripping novel that will appeal to fans of Liane Moriarty, Jojo Moyes and Marian Keyes' Sally Hepworth Molly's a millennial home organiser about to have her first baby. Obviously her mum, Annie, will help with the childcare. Everyone else's parents are doing it. But Annie's dreams of music stardom have been on hold for thirty-five years, paused by childbirth then buried under her responsibilities as a mother, wage earner, wife, and only child of ailing parents. Finally, she can taste freedom. As Molly and her siblings gather in the close quarters of the family home over one fraught summer, shocking revelations come to light. Everyone is forced to confront the question of what it means to be a family. This Has Been Absolutely Lovely is a story about growing up and giving in, of parents and children, of hope and failure, of bravery and defied expectation, and whether it is ever too late to try again. 'A pure joy to read from the first page to the last - lots of heart and emotion, but with a perfect amount of humour. My only complaint is that I didn't write it myself!' Rachael Johns 'Hilarious, poignant, and a genuine page-turner. Dettmann's tone is addictively dry and often laugh-out-loud funny, but the family drama that unfolds is a proper yarn, with lovely dramatic twists and gorgeous revelations and resolutions.' Tim Minchin 'Witty, warm, sharp and sincere. An absolutely lovely read.' Book'd Out 'Compelling and utterly charming ... A joyful, laugh-drenched, tear-soaked page-turner' Ben Elton 'Brilliantly observed, Jessica Dettmann's portrayal of messy, modern family life is packed with delicious humour and balanced with moments of real poignancy. Her knack for writing sharp, witty dialogue makes for a hugely entertaining read. I adored it.' Joanna Nell

Going from one child to two is never all that easy for a family, but when Emma's husband simultaneously fathers a third child three doors up the street, things get very tricky, very fast. No longer is it enough for Emma to be the best wife and mother - now she's trying to be the best ex-wife, and the best part-time parent to her ex's love child, and that's before she even thinks about adding a new bloke to the mix.

Can a modern woman take lessons in love from Shakespeare? Beth O'Leary meets 10 Things I Hate About You in this sparkling romantic comedy from beloved Aussie author Jessica Dettmann. 'Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more. Men were deceivers ever ...' Since she was sixteen, Willa's curious touchstone in life and work has been the 1993 film Much Ado About Nothing. She's always looking for The Feeling, the stirring in her heart - and loins - that she gets when watching the opening scenes. Now she's navigating her mid-thirties, her career as a romance publisher in an unusual family business, and her determination to remain child-free, while quietly holding out for a love as big as Beatrice and Benedick's. But when relationships start to get complicated between Willa, her cousin Imogen and the four sons of the family she works for, and the events of her own life begin to mirror the plot of Shakespeare's beloved comedy, Willa must consider whether there is such a thing as too much ado. A delightfully Shakespearean romantic comedy about modern love, women's roles and the how the films and stories we grow up with shape us. Praise for Jessica Dettmann: 'Sharp and crisp and funny. I was dazzled' Mia Freedman 'Heartwarming yet biting' Sunday Telegraph 'A totally engaging and disarmingly charming writer' Kathy Lette 'Sparkling and heartwarming reading' Ben Elton 'Dettmann's tone is addictively dry and often laugh-out-loud funny, but the family drama that unfolds is a proper yarn, with lovely dramatic twists and gorgeous revelations and resolutions.' Tim Minchin on This Has Been Absolutely Lovely 'Dettmann is such a clever writer - her imagery is fresh and hilarious and her take on life is so dry and funny' Cassie Hamer

A hilarious and heartwarming debut that captures the dramas, delights and delirium of modern parenting Going from one child to two is never all that easy for a family, but when Emma’s husband simultaneously fathers a third child three doors up the street, things get very tricky very fast. No longer is it enough for Emma to be the best wife and mother. Now she needs to be the best ex-wife and the best part-time parent to her ex’s love child—and that’s before she even thinks about adding a new bloke to the mix. Set in an upwardly mobile, ultra-competitive suburb, this is a funny, biting, heartwarming modern comedy that looks at the roles we play, how we compete and what happens when we dare to strive for second-best.

A Novel

Second Best

A hilarious and heart-warming debut that captures the dramas, delights and delirium of modern parenting. This is Marian Keyes meets Allison Pearson, with a dash of Caitlin Moran. Going from one child to two is never all that easy for a family, but when Emma's husband simultaneously fathers a third child three doors up the street, things get very tricky, very fast. No longer is it enough for Emma to be the best wife and mother - now she's trying to be the best ex-wife, and the best part-time parent to her ex's love child, and that's before she even thinks about adding a new bloke to the mix. Set in an upwardly mobile, ultra-competitive suburb, this is a funny, biting, heartwarming modern comedy that looks at the roles we play, how we compete, and what happens when we dare to strive for second-best.

Jessica Dettmann

About

Books

Join the club