Florence Given releases her fiction debut Girlcrush - and it's the perfect beach read
Florence Given won a legion of fans with her debut book, Women Don't Owe You Pretty, thanks to its unique illustrations and empowering message, encouraging women across the world, of all generations, to recognise their worth.
So it's no surprise there's plenty of hype around her debut novel Girlcrush, published on the 9 August and set to be one of the best books of 2022. Girlcrush tells the story of Eartha, who embarks on a journey of sexual exploration as an openly bisexual woman who becomes embroiled in a dangerous online world.
Eartha finds fame online on Wonder Land, a social media app where users can create an online persona that represents their dream self, but she soon realises that being a viral sensation isn't as glamorous and exciting as it first seems.
Touted as a modern retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson's Jekyll and Hyde, the book focuses on Eartha's internal struggle finding her true self, and makes for a dark and thrilling read you won't be able to put down.
Like Women Don't Owe You Pretty, Girlcrush is another triumph for feminism and raises questions about a life lived online, as well as tackling themes of sexuality and the unfair expectations that are placed on women every day.
Sharing the exciting news on Instagram, Florence wrote: "Excited to reveal the COVER AND PLOT for my debut fiction; GIRLCRUSH. Girlcrush is a modern, sexy, feminist retelling of Jekyll and Hyde," alongside a synopsis of the story.
She then went on to say: "GIRLCRUSH is all about women, our obsession with each other and what happens when we’re crushed and reduced into the screens of our phones
"I CANNOT believe this will be out soon. Writing this novel has been one of the most challenging and exciting experiences of my career. I’ve poured all of my pain, love, desire and loneliness into this book and I really hope that you can taste it all in the pages. I have fallen in love with these gorgeous messy characters and I can’t wait [for] to for you to meet and get to know them."
Across all of her work, Florence's message is the same. She aims "to bring women together and give them a permission slip to define feminism on their own terms."
Florence said of writing the novel: "Venturing into fiction is a dream come true and I've written a story about a queer woman that I've always wanted to read myself - one that's hot and fun, but doesn't shy away from the darker realities of modern day life.
"Girlcrush is a book about the obsession women have with one another, the good, the bad and the outright complicated."
Girlcrush is published by Brazen and is available to buy now.
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