Feeling Sorry for Celia - Hardcover

Feeling Sorry For Celia is a true one-off, a bright, funny and incredibly original read.

Witty and sharp, the book follows Elizabeth, an imaginative and intelligent teenager. A genuinely sympathetic and well-rounded character, Elizabeth divides her time between worrying for flighty best friend Celia, keeping her divorced parents happy, mourning her lack of suitors, running and homework.

The narrative takes the form of all Elizabeth's correspondence, from notes left by her infuriating mother to postcards from her eccentric runaway best friend Celia. Far from making the story disjointed, this device adds to its readability and helps to build suspense. All the characters including very minor ones are so well drawn that it is impossible not to get involved with them.

Perhaps the most hilarious parts of the book are the scathing letters that Elizabeth receives from the various organisations which have spotted her shortcomings, including the Young Romance Association and The Association of Teenagers.

Dear Elizabeth Clarry,

We feel that it is our duty to ensure that you are not getting any crazy ideas. This young man who's been talking to you on the bus? What's his name--Saxon Walker? He is simply not ever going to be interested in you.

My dear child, he is a popular boy, a cool boy, smart, funny, athletic and gorgeous. Perhaps in your imagination such a boy might be interested in you. But never in reality, Elizabeth. Never.

You are merely a running partner to him. No more. We do not wish to offend you, only to warn you.

Best Wishes,

Cold Hard Truth Association

These letters from Elizabeth's subconscious to herself are a really effective contrivance and a hilarious way of expressing how grievous she imagines her keenly felt faults to be. All readers will be able to identify with Elizabeth and remember all those internal confidence-destroying voices that everybody hears during their teenage years.

Highly readable and highly recommended. --Rachel Ediss

" Dare to steal a glance into Elizabeth' s teen years....it feels a little like snooping into someone' s personal drawers-- but after a while, you' ll relish the sneak peeks....Sassy Celia is no sorry sister." -- "Seventeen"
"I absolutely loved "Feeling Sorry for Celia" and wish I had written it myself. It's so funny and so gripping -- it describes perfectly the confusion and bittersweet hope of being a teenager. Written with exquisite deftness, immense warmth and humanity, it is the best 'feel-good' book I've read in a long time." -- Marian Keyes, author of "Last Chance Saloon and Rachel's Holiday"
" Elizabeth is feisty and charming, and she and the novel are a delight...this tells of relationships and especially friendships in a humorous but insightful fashion." -- "Kliatt"
" Highs and lows alternate as dizzily as adolescent hormone levels in this engaging Australian debut....Adolescence, zits and all, described with wit and empathy." -- "Kirkus Reviews"

“Dare to steal a glance into Elizabeth’s teen years....it feels a little like snooping into someone’s personal drawers—but after a while, you’ll relish the sneak peeks....Sassy Celia is no sorry sister.” —"Seventeen"
"I absolutely loved "Feeling Sorry for Celia" and wish I had written it myself. It's so funny and so gripping —it describes perfectly the confusion and bittersweet hope of being a teenager. Written with exquisite deftness, immense warmth and humanity, it is the best 'feel-good' book I've read in a long time." —Marian Keyes, author of "Last Chance Saloon and Rachel's Holiday"
“Elizabeth is feisty and charming, and she and the novel are a delight...this tells of relationships and especially friendships in a humorous but insightful fashion.” —"Kliatt"
“Highs and lows alternate as dizzily as adolescent hormone levels in this engaging Australian debut....Adolescence, zits and all, describe

"Dare to steal a glance into Elizabeth's teen years....it feels a little like snooping into someone's personal drawers--but after a while, you'll relish the sneak peeks....Sassy Celia is no sorry sister." --"Seventeen"
"I absolutely loved"Feeling Sorry for Celia" and wish I had written it myself. It's so funny and so gripping --it describes perfectly the confusion and bittersweet hope of being a teenager. Written with exquisite deftness, immense warmth and humanity, it is the best 'feel-good' book I've read in a long time." --Marian Keyes, author of "Last Chance Saloon and Rachel's Holiday"
"Elizabeth is feisty and charming, and she and the novel are a delight...this tells of relationships and especially friendships in a humorous but insightful fashion." --"Kliatt"
"Highs and lows alternate as dizzily as adolescent hormone levels in this engaging Australian debut....Adolescence, zits and all, described with wit and empathy." --"Kirkus Reviews"

Dare to steal a glance into Elizabeth's teen years....it feels a little like snooping into someone's personal drawers--but after a while, you'll relish the sneak peeks....Sassy Celia is no sorry sister. "Seventeen"

I absolutely loved "Feeling Sorry for Celia" and wish I had written it myself. It's so funny and so gripping --it describes perfectly the confusion and bittersweet hope of being a teenager. Written with exquisite deftness, immense warmth and humanity, it is the best 'feel-good' book I've read in a long time. "Marian Keyes, author of Last Chance Saloon and Rachel's Holiday"

Elizabeth is feisty and charming, and she and the novel are a delight...this tells of relationships and especially friendships in a humorous but insightful fashion. "Kliatt"

Highs and lows alternate as dizzily as adolescent hormone levels in this engaging Australian debut....Adolescence, zits and all, described with wit and empathy. "Kirkus Reviews""

"Dare to steal a glance into Elizabeth's teen years....it feels a little like snooping into someone's personal drawers--but after a while, you'll relish the sneak peeks....Sassy Celia is no sorry sister." --Seventeen

"I absolutely loved Feeling Sorry for Celia and wish I had written it myself. It's so funny and so gripping --it describes perfectly the confusion and bittersweet hope of being a teenager. Written with exquisite deftness, immense warmth and humanity, it is the best 'feel-good' book I've read in a long time." --Marian Keyes, author of Last Chance Saloon and Rachel's Holiday

"Elizabeth is feisty and charming, and she and the novel are a delight...this tells of relationships and especially friendships in a humorous but insightful fashion." --Kliatt

"Highs and lows alternate as dizzily as adolescent hormone levels in this engaging Australian debut....Adolescence, zits and all, described with wit and empathy." --Kirkus Reviews