My debut novel, All the Good Things, was published (in Hardback, e-book and audiobook) by Viking, Penguin UK in June 2017. The paperback is published on 5 April 2018.
Editions are available or forthcoming in the USA (Europa Editions), Holland (HarperCollins Holland), Italy (HarperCollins Italy), Israel (Yedioth) and Poland (Czarna Owca)
Twenty-one year old Beth is in prison. The thing she did is so bad she doesn’t deserve ever to feel good again.
But her counsellor, Erika, won’t give up on her. She asks Beth to make a list of all the good things in her life. So Beth starts to write down her story, from sharing silences with Foster Dad No. 1, to flirting in the Odeon on Orange Wednesdays, to the very first time she sniffed her baby’s head.
But at the end of her story, Beth must confront the bad thing.
What is the truth hiding behind her crime? And does anyone – even a 100% bad person – deserve a chance to be good?
Here are some good things people have been saying about it:
“Heartfelt, heartbreaking, and genuinely joyous” (Francis Spufford, author of Golden Hill)
“Compassionate and beautifully written” (Carys Bray, author of The Museum of You)
“An important novel which celebrates the fact that good things exist inside every person, no matter how ignored or hidden.” (Sarah Butler, author of Ten Things I’ve Learned About Love and Before the Fire)
“The best thing I’ve read this year.” Joanne Harris, author of Chocolat
“A heartbreaking, vital and seamless insight into a life that might otherwise be ignored or judged. The voice of Bethany is perfect – compelling, whip-smart and deeply affecting.” (Emma Jane Unsworth, author of Animals)
A Sunday Times Top 50 Summer Read
“A sparky and unsettling debut… The novel’s strength lies in its language, in the voice of Beth as she narrates her life.” Gerard Woodward, The Guardian
“The hints of the “bad thing” that she did keep the reader hooked until the end, where we realise that certain women, no matter how hard they fight, have the odds stacked against them.” 10 best debut novels by women authors, The Independent
“A moving, passionate account of someone struggling hard for redemption.” The Times
“A raw and vivid story that clutches at the heart and squeezes tightly.” Sunday Express
“One of the best debuts of the year so far – the writer is destined for great things.” The Sun
“The voice of Beth is instantly captivating and has a veracity that really jumps from the page.” Big Issue
“A remarkable book – moving, profound, urgent – and Fisher is clearly a writer to watch.” Yvette Huddleston, Yorkshire Post
***** “Clare Fisher has painted an authentic view of humanity in All the Good Things. It will challenge you. It will break you. Read it.” Go Book Yourself
“Life can be brutal, devastating and challenging and Clare Fisher presents Beth’s version of it with compassion and humanity. This is hugely affecting writing. Outstanding.” Linda’s Book Bag
The blog tour featured an astounding 52 bloggers.
One of NetGalley UK’s Top Ten Books for June.