A heart-warming sophomore novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of FRANK AND RED
I’ll always remember the first time I saw Sister Francis.
It’s not that I have a great memory, or anything, it’s just kind of hard to forget the first time you see a 60-year-old nun, barrelling along at the wheel of a decrepit 1968 Ford Transit. Especially when the nun in question has a cigarette dangling from her lips, and the minibus in question is spewing dark smoke, backfiring, and has – in ornate type – the words ‘ASS VIRGIN’ written along its side.
I know. This deserves explanation.
1981. Richie, Bennett, Kenny, and Stan are four best pals from the Whittle council estate, with not much to do but get up to no good. After a run-in with the local bullies, they find unexpected refuge in the crumbling boys’ club at the local church.
The Blessed Assumption Boys Club is run by Sister Francis: a sweary, chain-smoking and unlikely nun . . . and the most remarkable person any of them will ever meet.
Set against the backdrop of early ’80s Britain, The Trouble with Sister Francis is a funny, heartwarming and heartbreaking story of unlikely heroes, quiet rebellions, fierce loyalty and unexpected hope.
And at the centre of it all, a long-forgotten journal that might just change everything.
Praise for FRANK AND RED:
‘Best book of the year!’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘A fantastic debut’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘A lovely feel-good treat’ The Times | ‘Simply perfect’ Daily Mirror | ‘Hilariously funny . . . and beneath it all really quite lovely’ Metro | Brilliant, just brilliant’ Huffington Post | Debut of the Year Woman and Home | A Prima Book of The Year
I’ll always remember the first time I saw Sister Francis.
It’s not that I have a great memory, or anything, it’s just kind of hard to forget the first time you see a 60-year-old nun, barrelling along at the wheel of a decrepit 1968 Ford Transit. Especially when the nun in question has a cigarette dangling from her lips, and the minibus in question is spewing dark smoke, backfiring, and has – in ornate type – the words ‘ASS VIRGIN’ written along its side.
I know. This deserves explanation.
1981. Richie, Bennett, Kenny, and Stan are four best pals from the Whittle council estate, with not much to do but get up to no good. After a run-in with the local bullies, they find unexpected refuge in the crumbling boys’ club at the local church.
The Blessed Assumption Boys Club is run by Sister Francis: a sweary, chain-smoking and unlikely nun . . . and the most remarkable person any of them will ever meet.
Set against the backdrop of early ’80s Britain, The Trouble with Sister Francis is a funny, heartwarming and heartbreaking story of unlikely heroes, quiet rebellions, fierce loyalty and unexpected hope.
And at the centre of it all, a long-forgotten journal that might just change everything.
Praise for FRANK AND RED:
‘Best book of the year!’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘A fantastic debut’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘A lovely feel-good treat’ The Times | ‘Simply perfect’ Daily Mirror | ‘Hilariously funny . . . and beneath it all really quite lovely’ Metro | Brilliant, just brilliant’ Huffington Post | Debut of the Year Woman and Home | A Prima Book of The Year