Readers seeking a witty, thought-provoking read will find it in The Shelf by Helly Acton, a novel that explores love and reality TV in a modern context.
A Radio 2 Book Club Pick
'Utter PERFECTION!' Marian Keyes
'Fun, fresh and thought-provoking' Lindsey Kelk
'A witty, life-affirming page-turner' Woman & Home
'Fun, thought-provoking and unapologetically feminist' Daisy Edgar-Jones
'This brilliant novel is a really fun read. Very entertaining!' Jo Whiley
She can't believe she didn't see this coming. Well, not this. How could anyone anticipate being dumped on TV?
Everyone in Amy's life seems to be getting married, having children and settling down (or so Instagram tells her), and she feels like she's falling behind. So, when her long-term boyfriend surprises her with a dream holiday, she thinks he's going to finally pop the Big Question. But the dream turns into a nightmare when, instead, she finds herself on the set of a Big Brother-style reality television show, The Shelf.
Along with five other women, Amy is heartlessly dumped live on TV and must compete in a series of humiliating and obnoxious tasks in the hope of being crowned 'The Keeper'.
While inside the house, will Amy learn that there are worse things than being 'left on the shelf'?
Helly Acton is a copywriter from London with past lives in the Middle East, Africa and Australia. Born in Zimbabwe, Helly and her family emigrated to the East Sussex coast when she was fifteen years old. She studied Law at King's College London before following a more creative path into advertising. Helly currently lives in London with her husband, Chris, and their dog child Milo.
