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  • Published: 19 June 2025
  • ISBN: 9781529907025
  • Imprint: Transworld Digital
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 352

Private Lives




In a small town, secrets don't stay hidden for long. Another standout compulsive and thought-provoking novel from the author of the Richard & Judy book club pick, The Herd.

The compulsive, page-turning new novel from the bestselling author of Richard & Judy book club pick The Herd, perfect for fans of Celeste Ng's Little Fires Everywhere and Liane Moriarty.

'Brilliantly done' Sarah Turner, bestselling author of Stepping Up

'Addictive, thought-provoking, and cleverly told' Jenny Quintana, author of The Missing Girl

What happens behind closed doors stays there. Doesn't it?

Rosie and Seb Kent are happily married, living in the sleepy seaside town of Waverly. Now that Seb has achieved his dream of becoming headmaster of the local school, their lives couldn't be any better.

Then she arrives.

Abi, a young, single mother, has come to Waverly for a fresh start. She plans to reinvent herself and give her children a new life. But then she sees Seb.

And nothing will ever be the same again . . .

As their complicated hidden past threatens to destroy them both, they try their hardest to keep it contained.

But in a small town, secrets don’t stay hidden for long, and soon, what should be their private business becomes a very public scandal.

How far will everyone – them, their families and the whole community – go to protect everything they hold dearest?

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*** READERS CAN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT PRIVATE LIVES ***

'Emily Edward’s takes a simple situation and turns it into a compulsive page turner'

'Emily Edwards...has a brilliant knack for the book-club type discussion novel'

'Simply superb storytelling. Emily Edward has nailed the domestic drama'


Praise for Emily Edwards:

'A knock-out twist' GILLIAN McALLISTER

'Will have book clubs across the country in hot debate! Brilliant' CLARE MACKINTOSH

'It is hard to imagine a more timely novel' JODI PICOULT

  • Published: 19 June 2025
  • ISBN: 9781529907025
  • Imprint: Transworld Digital
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 352

About the author

Emily Edwards

After studying at Edinburgh University, Emily Edwards worked for a think tank in New York before returning to London where she worked as a support worker for vulnerable women at a large charity. She now lives in Lewes, East Sussex with her endlessly patient husband and her two endlessly energetic young sons. The inspiration for The Herd came when she was eight months pregnant with her first son, and her husband and their vaccine-hesitant doula had an impassioned 'debate' about vaccination in their garden. As she sat there with her hands over her huge stomach listening to them both, Emily realized this was an issue which impacts us all and that it would make a brilliant topic for a novel.

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