DEAR LILY

Heartwarming and heartbreaking novel for fans of Jojo Moyes, ELEANOR OLIPHANT, and ONE DAY IN DECEMBER. Set in Copenhagen, DEAR LILY is structured as a series of letters written by Joy to her younger sister, gradually revealing the past she is attempting to escape, while chronicling the new life she is trying to create.

Dear Lily,

It's me, Joy, your much wiser and (very slightly) older sister. I thought I'd start a new tradition of letter writing – now that we're long distance.

On the plane over here, I began to cry in seat 21C. I think the magnitude of it finally hit me, after everything that happened

I haven't even unpacked yet – the only thing I've taken out of my suitcase is Harville, your beloved childhood teddy. Sorry for stealing him, but I need him more than you do. Every time I look at that little brown bear I think about our childhood. Remember that dance we made up to Annie's ‘It's a Hard Knock Life'? (Remember
the broom choreography?)

I'm also sorry for abandoning you – I've always been your agony aunt, and a buffer in your infamous shouting matches with Mum.
But I had to leave, Harmony, I had to.

Anyway, I'm here now. I'm here to start over, and to face up to the past. I want to learn to laugh again, and to find someone to love who will maybe even love me back. You always told me I was just getting by, not actually living, so I'm finally doing it. Wish me luck, little sister.

Love,
Joy x

Drew Davies was born in London and grew up in Whanganui, New Zealand. He attended the Unitec School of Performing Arts in Auckland and won a Playmarket New Zealand Young Playwright of the Year award in 2000. After a brief stint on a kiwi soap, he has worked in Search for the past 15 years. Drew's other claim to fame is that Stephen Fry once called him droll. Either that, or he got his name wrong. He now lives in Wanstead, London.

DEAR LILY is a beautiful book-club read for anyone who has ever hit rock bottom, longed for a fresh start, or needed to heal a broken, aching heart.

Drew Davies was born in London and grew up in Whanganui, New Zealand. He attended the Unitec School of Performing Arts in Auckland and won a Playmarket New Zealand Young Playwright of the Year award in 2000. After a brief stint on a kiwi soap, he has worked in Search for the past 15 years. Drew's other claim to fame is that Stephen Fry once called him droll. Either that, or he got his name wrong. He now lives in Wanstead, London.