Listen to a sample
This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things
- Author
- Naomi Wood
- Narrator
- Lynsey Beauchamp
- Publisher
- Orion
- Publish Date
- 4 April 2024
- Run Time
- 6 hours 21 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Genre
- Short stories
Not available in your country
We don't have the rights to sell this audiobook where you are. If it's already in your library you can still listen to it in My Books.
What to expect
In my life, I had always been a good woman; controlling what it was that I wanted. But recently, I had started to notice my bad energy, and I began to follow it, wondering where it would take me . . .
A mother has an unexpected outburst at a corporate therapy session for working parents. A couple find some long-overdue time to rekindle their relationship and make an ill-advised home movie. A pregnant film director plots revenge on the actress who betrayed her. A woman deliberately causes conflict at her ex's wedding.
These powerful and funny stories illuminate the lives of untamed women. They explore how society wants women to behave and what happens when they refuse . . .
'Humane and very funny' JESSIE BURTON
'Clever and illuminating' LUCY CALDWELL
'Witty and biting and brilliant' I PAPER
'Read it and riot' MARIANNE LEVY
Critics Review
-
Humane and very funny, a story that understands out emotional and intellectual storms, and the generosity we are capable of that will keep us all afloat
JESSIE BURTON on ‘Comorbidities’
-
A whip-smart, funny, and pitch-perfect collection of stories about flawed and complex women we actually recognise. This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things is literary fiction at its best, and Naomi Wood a writer at the top of her game
CHRISTIE WATSON, author of MORAL INJURIES
-
Sharp and fresh and painful and funny, these are clever and illuminating stories about contemporary motherhood. There's great pleasure to be found in these spiky women giving sarcastic retorts to their fragmented lives, and solidarity in their loneliness, and the ways that society and its structures have let them down
LUCY CALDWELL, author of THESE DAYS
-
Every story in this book feels perfect in a different way. Very sharp and very funny . . . I loved it
DAVID WHITEHOUSE, author of ABOUT A SON
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
I can't stop thinking about this book, it's almost too good. Wood's prose is delicious, deceptively readable and profoundly unnerving. This is dangerous writing; it glitters. Read it and riot
MARIANNE LEVY, author of DON'T FORGET TO SCREAM
-
How terrifically exciting to see Naomi Wood flourish in the short story form. It seems the perfect vehicle for her wit, intelligence, mischief and levity. These stories absolutely nail the experiences of women rebelling in worlds calibrated to restrict and undernourish them. They skewer modern parenting, maternity, romance, and morality. It's a beautiful, electrifying thing to witness - a writer so hilariously and so reasonably voicing the unspeakable
SARAH HALL, author of BURNTCOAT
-
From the winner of the BBC Short Story Award comes a smart, skewering collection of tales on the subversive sides of womanhood. Failed sisterhood, the shadowy side of modern love, perilous parenting classes and the dangers of inviting an ex-wife to a former husband's wedding are explored with gleeful aplomb
DAILY MAIL
-
I laughed and winced at these witty, shrewd stories about women who will not or cannot conform. They are mothers, wives, friends and lovers who play out all the complications of each of these roles - they are never noble, and never victims. Hats off to Naomi Wood who writes with her usual sparkling acuity about modern life and relationships
REETA CHAKRABARTI
-
I love this collection! Every story is glorious - full of dark mischief, so funny and unexpected and original. Brilliant
EMMA HEALEY, author of ELIZABETH IS MISSING
-
I loved meeting Wood's troublesome characters. Each story is packed full of voice, beautiful use of language. Time and again, Wood sticks the landing, which is no easy feat in the short form
JARRED MCGINNIS, author of THE COWARD
-
In this ultra-smart collection, Naomi Wood shines a light into the hidden rooms of womanhood, exploring their dark corners with grace, humour, and brutal frankness. I both recognised and cared deeply for these deliciously flawed women
MEGAN BRADBURY, author of EVERYONE IS WATCHING
-
Complex, powerful, relatable, hilarious, expansive, REAL tales of modern motherhood. This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things captures the horror and terror of motherhood as well as the joys and tenderness. This book is another little chip off The Shame of not finding motherhood easy or pleasurable all the time - but mostly it is so, so funny. It's a life-affirming companion for any woman who has ever doubted or questioned or winced at her own life choices or deepest feelings. I loved it
EMMA JANE UNSWORTH, author of ANIMALS
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Naomi Wood
- Narrator
- Lynsey Beauchamp
- Duration
- 6 hours 21 minutes
- Release Date
- 4 April 2024
- ISBN
- 9781399615938
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Orion
- Genre
- Short stories
Synopsis
WINNER OF THE BBC NATIONAL SHORT STORY AWARDIn my life, I had always been a good woman; controlling what it was that I wanted. But recently, I had started to notice my bad energy, and I began to follow it, wondering where it would take me . . .A mother has an unexpected outburst at a corporate therapy session for working parents. A couple find some long-overdue time to rekindle their relationship and make an ill-advised home movie. A pregnant film director plots revenge on the actress who betrayed her. A woman deliberately causes conflict at her ex's wedding.These powerful and funny stories illuminate the lives of untamed women. They explore how society wants women to behave and what happens when they refuse . . .'Humane and very funny' JESSIE BURTON'Clever and illuminating' LUCY CALDWELL'Witty and biting and brilliant' I PAPER 'Read it and riot' MARIANNE LEVY
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.