Busy Being Free cover art

Busy Being Free

Starting Again on Your Own

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Busy Being Free

By: Emma Forrest
Narrated by: Indira Varma
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About this listen

What happens when your story doesn't end the way you thought it would?

When you realise - after getting married and having a baby - that you chose wrong?

When the life you dreamt of becomes something you must walk away from?

And when you then find yourself not lonely, but elated - elated to be alone with yourself?

©2022 Emma Forrest (P)2022 Weidenfeld & Nicolson Divorce & Separation Parenting & Families Relationships Single Parents Single Parent

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Critic reviews

"A staggering piece of writing." (Nigella Lawson)

"It's woken me up." (Minnie Driver, author of Managing Expectations)

"The most delicious memoir that kept me in bed all day." (Sophie Heawood, author of The Hungover Games)

All stars
Most relevant  
but as other people's dreams are boring so are their sex lives. I found the glimpses of why EF's marriage broke up the most interesting part. Stuff about her clothes and her sex life I found initially quite dull, and then irritating - I'm prepared to accept I am envious though.

Good in parts...

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A bit more visceral than expected, and not my experience personally. Glad to have purchased though as it’s been on my “you might also like” wherever I go!

Not what I expected

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I am so grateful that Emma Forrest has shared her story, her honesty is refreshing and liberating. Indira Varma reads it beautifully and sensitively (and she is really good at accents)

I did not want it to end

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Not the sort of book I would normally pick to listen to on here (middle aged divorced man with interests in sport and comedy) but after reading a review in the paper decided to give it a go. Made for a lovely listen and consumed the entire book on one Saturday. Great work Emma.

Great listen

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I must have over 300 books in my audible library, and this is one of the best I’ve ever read. I had no expectations and knew nothing about the author, as her story unfolds, the crushing honesty, beautiful writing and wicked humour captivated me like no book before. I can honestly say I’ve read nothing like it. Hugely relatable, The author make me cry and laugh with her stories. Don’t hesitate to listen

STUNNING! One of the best books I’ve ever read.

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She writes very well but she is so obsessed with her own beauty it is very tiring.

Don’t bother

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I listened to this book for an hour. Firstly was confused by the irrelevant constant name dropping of music artists & bands? The story appears to be about an independent woman who is free & easy with sex then uses her femininity to lure in her man. Then in a total contradiction the story turns to the authors opinion & assumed reader’s opinion of Donald Trump & his alleged criticism of women exactly like her. That was my cue to turn off this bore of a book. I’m not sure what the story was about as it flipped around. Trying to tell the reader that life in a pokey flat in north London was better than a life in LA was laughable. Gutted I wasted a credit on this but glad I didn’t waste further time listening.

Waste of my free credit!

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