The Funny Thing about Norman Foreman, Julietta Henderson [best novels to read for students .TXT] 📗

for your friendship, sage advice, and for taking Norman into your heart and finding him a perfect place in the world.

Everlasting thanks to my amazing editor Molly Crawford, for your support, wise words and encouragement, and the entire team at Transworld, for welcoming me so warmly and making me feel like part of a very special family. Big sunny Aussie thanks to Beverley Cousins, Lou Ryan and the Penguin Random House team in Sydney and Melbourne, for believing so fiercely in my book and making sure Norman made it even further than Edinburgh!

Thank you to my early readers, Iris, Jane, Sue, Josie, Dee and Jo, and extra-special thanks to Leanne, for not only reading various versions but nagging me all the way to the finish line and being there to cheer me when I made it!

To my fabulous Curtis Brown Creative writing friends, Alex Clare, Elin Daniels, Grace Coleman, Catherine Bennetto, Moyette Gibbons, Alice Clark-Platts, Heidi Perks and Dawn Goodwin – you ladies continue to inspire me with your talent and tenacity. To Anna Davis and everyone at Curtis Brown Creative, thank you for the push I needed, the support I wanted and the courage I discovered.

Finally, to my family, Beverly, Tristan, Sidra, Oliver, Bec and Hamish, and my lovely and much-appreciated friends who’ve encouraged me along the way. Thank you all – I hope the wait has been worth it.

About the Author

© Lizzy C Photography

Julietta Henderson grew up in North Queensland and developed her passion for the written word producing ‘magazines’ for school friends and neighbours with her sister. She has worked her way through jobs as diverse as bicycle tour guide in Tuscany, nanny in the Italian Alps and breakfast waitress in the wilds of Scotland. Like many Australians, her love affair with Europe began when she came to London on a working holiday and stayed for more than a decade. Now a full-time writer, Julietta divides her life between Melbourne, the UK and wherever she can find winter.

Praise for

The Funny Thing about Norman Foreman

‘What a charming, funny and cheering read. There’s such a lovely, buoyant innocence to Norman and his quest – a coming-of-age that tickles and moves in equal measure.’

– Beth Morrey, bestselling author of Saving Missy

‘One of those gorgeous books that completely lifts your spirits and restores your faith in humanity. An utterly lovely tale.’

– Ruth Jones, actress and bestselling author of Never Greener

‘Charming and warm-hearted.’

– Sydney Morning Herald

‘Serves up plenty of rollicking misadventures and cathartic heartstring tugs along the way. The literary equivalent of a feelgood British comedy film . . . A page-turning summer read for fans of writers such as Graeme Simsion, David Nicholls and Sue Townsend.’

– Books+Publishing

‘The Funny Thing about Norman Foreman is funny. It is charming, warm, and uplifting as well. There is so much to love about this book.’

– Laurie Frankel, bestselling author of This Is How It Always Is

‘A book full of hope, humour and kindness, with one of the most endearing central characters I’ve met in a long time. An utter delight!’

– Sarah Haywood, bestselling author of The Cactus

BANTAM

UK | USA | Canada | Ireland | Australia

India | New Zealand | South Africa | China

Bantam is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com

First published in Great Britain by Bantam Press, an imprint of Transworld Publishers, in 2021

This edition published in Australia by Bantam in 2021

Copyright © Julietta Henderson 2021

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, published, performed in public or communicated to the public in any form or by any means without prior written permission from Penguin Random House Australia Pty Ltd or its authorised licensees.

This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Lyric here from ‘My Way’ by Frank Sinatra, lyrics by Claude François and Jacques Revaux. Lyric here and here from ‘Amazing’ by Alex Lloyd, lyrics by Alex Lloyd.

Cover photography courtesy of Getty Images

Cover design by Beci Kelly/TW

ISBN 9781760145224

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