Perfect On Paper By Gillian Harvey

‘Perfect On Paper’ is the latest book by Gillian Harvey.

Clare Bailey’s life is perfect. Successful career, loving husband, two kids and a gorgeous townhouse. At least, that’s how it looks from the outside. In fact, she’s never felt more invisible. Her boss barely remembers her name, her husband is distracted by his new TV job and her daughter has never found her more embarrassing! But when she’s given a chance to turn her life upside-down she wonders whether she should risk everything she loves for a life that’s more than just ‘perfect on paper’?

I read Gillian’s debut called ‘Everything Is Fine’ during the middle of lockdown and it was exactly what I needed during that difficult time. Filled with relatable characters, delicious one-liners and hilarious scenarios, this book was the perfect pick me up and ‘Perfect On Paper’ is just as good.

Seen through the narrative of Claire, she’s tired of her life, she’s invisible and taken for granted. So one day, she decides to take a stand and put her poetry skills to some use and somehow becomes the front character of teenage dance troupe and her words about being tired of being invisible ring true for women all around the UK. But she is still unseen and unheard to those closest to her even though she’s trending on Twitter.

I loved this book and gobbled it up in one sitting on Saturday. Claire’s a fantastic character, she’s only in her late thirties but everyone treats her like, she’s some old relic and past her sell by date. She’s successful in her job, but has been regulated to a fusty old office with no window and her husband’s job as a television presenter is growing by the day. I loved the moment that Claire embraces her new found popularity and having spent so much of her life in the shadows and is unable to deal with her new found popularity and instead likes to disguise herself instead of revealing her true success.

A coming of age story that everyone will find relatable, ‘Perfect On Paper’ is a fun filled and witty story about the consequences of growing older and no longer being considered cool or visible. Packed with humour and warmth, this book is a must read for all those wanting to be seen.

You can buy ‘Perfect On Paper’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.