AN EXCEPTIONAL BOOK OF 2026 IN VOGUE, BBC, NEW YORK TIMES, W MAGAZINE, TOWN & COUNTRY

A beautifully written tribute to the end of a relationship – Joyce Carol Oates.

Beautiful... devastating ... Strangers reads with all the momentum and vividness of flawless literary fiction – British Vogue.

How do we carry on when a loved one betrays us? On a cold day in March 2020, in the early days of the pandemic, Belle Burden’s twenty-year husband announced, without any warning, that he was leaving her. His decision shocked Belle to her core: she believed he was a happy man, a committed partner, and a devoted father to their three children. She thought he was someone who had settled into the life he always wanted: a successful career, summers spent at their beloved home on Martha’s Vineyard, lots of tennis. Overnight, he changed from her steady companion into a stranger.

As she pieces her life back together after a loss she never imagined would happen, she discovers she is much stronger than she ever thought possible. Exploring the transformation of a shy, quiet girl, nicknamed ‘Belle the Good,’ into a powerful, courageous, determined woman who has learned to use her voice to expose the patriarchal structures that have kept women discreet and compliant for too long, Strangers is a must-read memoir of self-discovery.

Burden is an elegant writer… As Strangers and many TV shows show, even the most intimate and long-lasting marriages can hide unpleasant surprises. In the end, how well do you really know the person who lies beside you every night? – Economist.

‘A compelling story of marriage and betrayal… Strangers raises important questions about the nature of intimacy and what makes a “perfect” marriage… She expertly weaves the story: I devoured Strangers in about two days, greedily absorbing every twist and painful turn… I loved it.’ – Lucy Denyer, Telegraph.

‘Looks at how we perceive intimacy, how those closest to us can change without us realizing, and how to move forward after devastation.’ – W Magazine.

‘Burden’s sharp, personal writing invites readers into her unimaginable circumstances and offers a message to anyone suffering: you can make it to the other side.’ – Town & Country.

Pages: 256, Dimensions: 14.5x14.5cm