I’m so excited about my third full-length novel being published in July 2021! After what feels like a full year of home-schooling (when counting it, I think it was actually only about 11.5 months) when I’ve had to grab moments to do the final edits, it’s wonderful to see it out in the world.

A THOROUGHLY MODERN MARRIAGE came about from the idea of trying to explore what happens when people fall in love with the wrong people at the wrong time; but it all turns out OK. I won’t reveal the twist here but – at one stage – characters in the book are left to grapple with the complete impossibility of being able to love the person they want.

The book is a heart-warming story of how families and friendships can come through unspeakable turmoil and love always wins.

It’s been a long time coming (my last book was published over five years ago!) as I’ve been struggling with some turmoil myself during this time. In fact, the challenges I’ve faced are going to be the anchor theme for book number 4 (more on that in future).

But, for now, it’s time to focus on Lydia, Daniel, Dominic, Lois and Claudia as they seek love and happiness – even in the improbable setting of A THOROUGHLY MODERN MARRIAGE

If you like the sound of the book and you Tweet, here’s some ready-made Twittering, so do tell the world.

@Helenlchandler’s new book “A Thoroughly Modern Marriage” is out now! A heart-warming story of families, friendships and finding love in unexpected places https://amzn.to/2UO93tS

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Previous books

My second novel TO HAVE AND TO HOLD was published way back in 2014. It’s a story about love, marriage, friendship, bad decisions and second chances. Lots of romantic fiction ends with a wedding, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD explores what happens after the happy ever after.

My first novel, TWO FOR JOY was published on 6 June 2013. When I started writing TWO FOR JOY in 2011 it wasn’t with much expectation that it would ever be published, but I desperately needed to carve out some creative time for myself out of the hurly burly of being a full-time mum to an adorable but demanding two year old. My mother-in-law generously agreed to look after my daughter one afternoon a week, and that became my writing time. I hugely enjoyed the process of creating the kind of book which I would like to read myself.

Finally I plucked up the courage to show a few chapters to my mother-in-law, whose day job is running a Literary Agency. She liked it, thought it might be publishable, and said that she would like to represent me. I finished the first draft, and tentatively gave it to some friends to read. They liked it too, and I started to allow myself a small spark of hope that one day it might be published.

The first half of 2012 involved a lot of re-writing and polishing, then, in September, the most exciting day of my life – an offer from Hodder and Stoughton!

TWO FOR JOY tells the story of Julia and Toby, who have been friends for years, but apart from a couple of drunken snogs in their university days, there’s never been anything more than friendship between them. It’s only when Toby goes through a dramatic break up with his gorgeous ballerina girlfriend Ruby, that he and Julia realise they’re meant to be together.

Then Ruby drops a bombshell – she’s pregnant – and though he feels torn in two, Toby decides he has to give their relationship another chance but then things get a lot more complicated….

Having written TWO FOR JOY, I loved the characters so much, I couldn’t leave them alone. So I published a prequel as a Christmas novella: ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS.

Even then, I’m still not done with Toby and Julia – loads of people have asked me “What happened next?”. So I’ve already decided that the sequel to TWO FOR JOY is going to be Book Number Five!

But, for now and for today, the priority is my newest creations in A THOROUGHLY MODERN MARRIAGE. There are big problems for Lydia and Dominic to solve. Will they make it through okay?…