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To Hell With It

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What to expect

'Such a fresh, smart, original debut' Sunday Times bestseller Beth O'Leary

'The best romcom I've ever read!' Emily Slapper

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With the warmth and charm of Bridget Jones and a main character as unforgettable as Eleanor Oliphant, this is an irresistible debut about a young woman navigating love, friendship and happiness in a world that doesn’t think like she does.

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Pearl O’Reilly is twenty-seven (nearly twenty-eight). She likes salmon pink, the number three and going to the pub with her best friend Una the same night each week. Thanks to her OCD, her other routines – from counting her way downstairs to obsessively washing her hands – pose more of a problem.

But that’s all about to change. Because it’s time for Pearl to say to hell with it – starting with the gorgeous naked man in her bed this morning…

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Readers (and your favourite authors!) are LOVING To Hell With It:

‘Moving, funny, and totally satisfying, I loved this book’ Katie Fforde, author of From London With Love

'Funny, empathetic and engaging. Loved it!' Sunday Times bestseller Sally Page, author of The Secrets of Flowers

'Now and then, a character carves our a permanent place in my heart. Step forward Pearl' Claire Alexander, author of Meredith, Alone

'This book felt like an absolute treat, a warm hug, hanging out with such likeable, funny characters.’ Aliya Ali-Afzal, author of Would I Lie to You?

‘This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This debut by Claire Frances is a rollercoaster of relatable quirks, raw emotions, and laugh out loud moments that’ll steal your heart faster than Pearl counts her way down the stairs.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I LOVED this book! […] Frances had me laughing and then almost crying, particularly nearer to the end.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I absolutely adored Pearl! She is messy, flawed scattered and so real I can imagine sitting down for a cup of tea with her.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘If you’re looking for a read that’s both entertaining and insightful, add this one to your list. I promise you won’t regret it.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘An absolute rollercoaster of chaos, charm, and unexpected heart! From the first page, I was hooked on its witty dialogue, laugh-out-loud moments, and the kind of chemistry that sizzles off the page. Claire Frances has delivered a story that’s wickedly fun and impossible to put down! Can’t wait to see what she writes next!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A fabulous debut!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This was my first five-star read of 2025, and I absolutely devoured this book!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘To Hell With It is a wonderfully honest and uplifting tale about love, friendship, and finding happiness in a world that doesn’t always understand you.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I absolutely adored Pearl! She is messy, flawed scattered and so real I can imagine sitting down for a cup of tea with her.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This is just gorgeous.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Critics Review

'Such a fresh, smart, original debut with a totally distinctive voice - I enjoyed it so much!' Beth O'Leary, author of Swept Away

'Moving, funny, and totally satisfying, I loved this book' Katie Fforde, author of From London With Love

'I was going to say that this book is Eleanor Oliphant meets Marian Keyes, but I don't think that does justice to Claire Frances' writing, which has its own voice - funny, empathetic and engaging. Plus, I felt I learnt an awful lot more about neurodiversity. Loved it!' Sally Page, author of The Secrets of Flowers

'To Hell With It is refreshing, funny, original and moving. It's a story about overcoming the gulf between coping and thriving; and it made me reassess how much I was really living my own life. How Claire Frances has managed to write such a perfectly honest representation of OCD in a light-hearted and hilarious page-turner I will never know. Anyone who has anxiety will relate to this book and finish reading it feeling seen and inspired to push themselves. It's the best rom-com I've ever read!' Emily Slapper, author of Everyone I Know is Dying

'Now and then, a character carves out a permanent place in my heart. Step forward Pearl, whose world Claire Frances draws us into with sensitivity, humour and credibility. You won't want to leave. To Hell With It is a must-read and Claire Frances is one to watch! Funny and poignant--To Hell With It is a love story for our times' Claire Alexander, author of Meredith, Alone

'Having little knowledge of OCD myself, Pearl's insight is funny, tragic and thoroughly entertaining, as she learns to expand her world and manage her habits. Frances writes with a vivid new voice, observant but affectionate, punchy and oh so honest. A totally charming read' Pernille Hughes, author of Ten Years

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