For several months Marnie, a middle-aged poet and mother, has experienced sightings of her long-dead identical twin sister, Perdita, across London. As a consequence, and due to her crippling writer's block, she has sought the help of octogenarian Harley Street shrink, Schlap, to work through her problems. Not least her repeated dreams of being a man.

Schlap has problems of his own though, having recently suffered a silent stroke which has affected his memory. Or is he more aware of reality than Marnie herself?

Marnie's long-suffering partner and their three teenage kids are not helping matters, either. Neither is Marnie's bohemian Alpha-course attending mum, her diabetic chef dad, nor the inquisitive family dog. Perhaps Marnie's encounter and blossoming friendship with a woman who she thinks is the living embodiment of long-dead author Katherine Mansfield will provide the key to unlock her mind.Will Marnie's writing be liberated from its prison? Is she losing her mind? Will the price she has to pay be bigger than the sum of its parts? And does the previous sentence even make sense? All will be revealed...


A really entertaining, funny, heartfelt read. I loved every bonkers minute - Sophie Ward

It is magical, nostalgic, current, imaginative, tragic and very funny. I devoured it in two sittings. I saw nothing coming and was surprised and thrilled by the outcome - Maureen Lipman

It made me cry and laugh. The relationships and dialogue are brilliant. Hilarious - a wild and moving menopausal Alice in Wonderland - Indira Varma

The first book about psychoanalysis to be laugh-out-loud funny; a charming, hilarious tangle of art, grief, memory and the mundane details of everyday life. Wise's Marnie will win your heart - whether or not she wants it is another matter entirely - Emma Szewczak, author of THE OFFSET

An exploration of grief and what it means to loose ones grip on reality wrapped around a hilarious portrait of a vivid and dysfunctional family. I ripped through this unusual, interesting and delightfully off-kilter novel - Kate Sawyer, author of THE STRANDING

I love Susannah's writing. Her understanding of human behaviour in all its complexities, humour, and tragedy is second to none. Loved it - Tracey-Ann Oberman

Hilarious, moving, original, and relevant. I hoovered it up. Wise has triumphed with this glorious second novel - Katherine Parkinson

A runaway train of a novel, taking the reader on a grand tragi-comic ride - Dame Rose Tremain

Funny, emotional, sad, and so, so honest. It's about love, family, grief, longing, and the crazy turmoil of living with all of them. Highly recommended - Bethany Clift, author of LOVE AND OTHER HUMAN ERRORS