The Best of Everything - Kit de Waal

Written by Kit de Waal
Read by Sara Powell
Format: M4B
Bitrate: 128 Kbps
Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins
Release date: 04-10-25

Longlisted for The Women’s Prize Fiction 2026

‘A profoundly compassionate novel of devastating power’ Bernardine Evaristo, Booker Prize-Winning author of Girl, Woman, Other

Paulette’s the kind of woman who likes the future all mapped out: the wedding to Denton, the Caribbean honeymoon, the gingham quilt on the baby’s crib. Until one morning Garfield, Denton’s friend, arrives at her door with the news that Denton won’t be coming around any more, that there won’t be time for her to say goodbye.

Somehow Garfield finds his way into her bed, and sooner than anyone can believe there is a baby, and suddenly giving Bird, her son, the best of everything is what gives Paulette’s life meaning.

So why is it another little boy, Nellie, who keeps Paulette awake at night? Nellie who is being raised a few streets away, with no sign of a mum. Surely Paulette is the last person who should be getting tangled up in any of that?

The Best of Everything is a novel about the love that can steal into our lives - in spite of the best laid plans.