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Little Disasters

A compelling and thought-provoking novel from the author of the Sunday Times bestseller Anatomy of a Scandal

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Little Disasters

By: Sarah Vaughan
Narrated by: Sophie Roberts, Esther Wane, Elliot Fitzpatrick, Sarah Feathers
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About this listen

 NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES STARRING DIANE KRUGER AND JO JOYNER

'Taut, clever, compelling and guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat…' Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train

You think you know her…
But look a little closer

She is a stay-at-home mother of three with boundless reserves of patience, energy and love. After being friends for a decade, this is how Liz sees Jess.

Then one moment changes everything.

Dark thoughts and carefully guarded secrets surface – and Liz is left questioning everything she thought she knew about her friend, and about herself.

From the bestselling author of Anatomy of a Scandal – a new thought-provoking novel exploring the complexity of motherhood and all that connects and disconnects us.

‘A deep dive into the dark side of motherhood. Highly recommended' Erin Kelly, author of He Said/She Said

‘Compelling, beautifully written, so perceptive and emotionally devastating. Like Anatomy of a Scandal, it feels like an important book as well as a brilliant read’ Lucy Foley, author of The Hunting Party

'Sarah Vaughan turns her pin-sharp attentions to the blame game that is early parenthood, raising the stakes to truly fearful levels. This tense, absorbing read will have parents – in fact, all readers – turning the pages deep into the night' Louise Candlish, author of Those People

'Little Disasters takes on another topical and emotive issue with the same skill and command Vaughan showed in Anatomy of a Scandal' Cara Hunter, author of All The Rage

‘An emotionally terrifying story. Sarah has impressively created characters whose pain and fear is all too real. I could not put this book down’ Heidi Perks, author of Now You See Her

‘Vaughan explores the darker impulses of motherhood - the fear, fury and despair; the frantic juggling, loss of control and exhaustion - and of course the overwhelming love. Refreshingly assured and punchy writing that is sure to hit a nerve’ Lucy Atkins, author of Magpie Lane

'A brilliant storyteller, Vaughan serves up every mother’s nightmare with consummate skill and a big heart. Clever. Totally compelling. Impossible to put down’ Eve Chase, author of Black Rabbit Hall

‘I loved it and didn’t want to put it down. So, so good on motherhood and friendship’ Laura Marshall, author of Friend Request

'I read this with a fascinated, mounting sense of horror because it could all be too true. Compulsive reading with an ending I didn’t see coming' Jane Corry, author of I Looked Away

'A true psychological thriller shows us, as all the best ones do, that the scariest place is not the dark alleyway but inside the pathways of our own minds. Compelling… and important’ Araminta Hall, author of Our Kind of Cruelty

‘An immaculately researched and compelling story about the devastating fall out from one mistake’ Jane Shemilt, author of The Playground

‘Each character is brilliantly drawn, and the book delivers surprise after surprise’ Claire Fuller, author of Bitter Orange

‘Absolutely brilliant; an emotionally devastating story, brave and honest’ Emma Curtis, author of One Little Mistake

‘Sarah’s writing is so impressive and skilful – the book is gripping, meticulous, and touches the raw nerves of parenthood’ Terry Stiastny, author of Conflicts of Interest

‘A fabulous twisty look at early motherhood and friendships. Domestic noir and psyche thriller, it’s brave and brilliant’ Fionnuala Kearney, author of The Book of Love

'Sarah Vaughan manages to hit that rare sweet spot between satisfying, literary writing and a plot that grips you by the throat. Little Disasters is every bit as brilliant as Anatomy of a Scandal. Superb' Cass Green, author of The Killer Inside

'An emotionally intelligent and beautifully written thriller that oozes with tension. Just when I thought I had things figured out, Sarah throws us a curveball which turns everything on its head. Rich and authentic, this is a truly remarkable book' Claire Douglas, author of Then She Vanishes

'Sarah Vaughan delivers another masterful page-turner, this time tackling early motherhood at its least joyful. As with Anatomy of a Scandal, she writes with intelligence and compassion; the result is a truly gripping read’ Catherine Isaac, author of Messy, Wonderful Us

'Told from multiple points Domestic Thrillers Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction Fiction

Critic reviews

‘Each character is brilliantly drawn, and the book delivers surprise after surprise’ (Claire Fuller, author of Bitter Orange)
‘Absolutely brilliant; an emotionally devastating story, brave and honest’ (Emma Curtis, author of One Little Mistake)
‘Compelling, beautifully written, so perceptive and emotionally devastating. Like Anatomy of a Scandal, it feels like an important book as well as a brilliant read’ (Lucy Foley, author of The Hunting Party)
‘Vaughan explores the darker impulses of motherhood - the fear, fury and despair; the frantic juggling, loss of control and exhaustion - and of course the overwhelming love. Refreshingly assured and punchy writing that is sure to hit a nerve’ (Lucy Atkins)
'A brilliant storyteller, Vaughan serves up every mother’s nightmare with consummate skill and a big heart. Clever. Totally compelling. Impossible to put down’ (Eve Chase, author of Black Rabbit Hall)
‘I loved it and didn’t want to put it down. So, so good on motherhood and friendship’ (Laura Marshall, author of Friend Request)
'A true psychological thriller shows us, as all the best ones do, that the scariest place is not the dark alleyway but inside the pathways of our own minds. Compelling…and important’ (Araminta Hall, author of Our Kind of Cruelty)
‘An immaculately researched and compelling story about the devastating fall out from one mistake’ (Jane Shemilt, author of The Playground)
'Sarah Vaughan turns her pin-sharp attentions to the blame game that is early parenthood, raising the stakes to truly fearful levels. This tense, absorbing read will have parents – in fact, all readers – turning the pages deep into the night' (Louise Candlish, author of Those People)
‘Sarah’s writing is so impressive and skilful – the book is gripping, meticulous, and touches the raw nerves of parenthood’ (Terry Stiastny, author of Conflicts of Interest)
‘A fabulous twisty look at early motherhood and friendships. Domestic noir and psyche thriller, it’s brave and brilliant’ (Fionnuala Kearney, author of The Book of Love)
'Sarah Vaughan manages to hit that rare sweet spot between satisfying, literary writing and a plot that grips you by the throat. Little Disasters is every bit as brilliant as Anatomy of a Scandal. Superb'
(Cass Green, author of The Killer Inside)
'Sarah Vaughan delivers another masterful page-turner, this time tackling early motherhood at its least joyful. As with Anatomy of a Scandal, she writes with intelligence and compassion; the result is a truly gripping read’ (Catherine Isaac, author of Messy, Wonderful Us)
'I read this with a fascinated, mounting sense of horror because it could all be too true. Compulsive reading with an ending I didn’t see coming' (Jane Corry, author of I Looked Away)
All stars
Most relevant
Such a moving & gripping read - loved it! Very insightful & makes me more empathetic towards mothers & their struggles

Little Disasters

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Really enjoyed this book. Narration was good and the book was gripping from start to finish.

Good read

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Poor characterisation, plots stretched too far, stereotypical male and female roles, ultimately dull and not worth either my money or my time.

Predictable with stereotypical family roles

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Predictable from early in. Long winded. Narration dull. I persevered as I’ve rejected several books lately.

Predictable

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I bought this book after reading the positive reviews (not noticing the negative ones) and also after loving Anatomy of a Scandal. I found the narration flat monotone and very slow so I upped the speed then found it too fast but better. However the minutiae of details and historical facts about different characters lives was for me utterly boring and also confusing as it swapped between characters and timelines almost to the point that I wanted to scream! Maybe that's how the main characters felt. Overall not a book for me. It has now gone back. But I appreciate that many listeners found it completely the opposite.

Found it tedious.

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