The Cactus cover art

The Cactus

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The Cactus

By: Sarah Haywood
Narrated by: Katherine Manners
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About this listen

A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | SHORTLISTED FOR THE BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD | A RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK

People aren't sure what to make of Susan Green. Family and colleagues find her prickly and hard to understand - but Susan makes perfect sense to herself. Age 45, she thinks her life is perfect. She has a London flat which is ideal for one; a steady job that suits her passion for logic; and a personal arrangement providing cultural and other, more intimate, benefits.

Yet suddenly faced with the loss of her mother and, implausibly, with the possibility of becoming a mother herself, Susan's greatest fear is being realised: she is losing control. And things can only get worse ... at least in Susan's eyes.

This sparkling debut is a breath of fresh air with real heart and a powerful emotional punch. In Susan we find a character as exasperating and delightful as The Rosie Project's Don Tillman. An uncompromising feminist and a fierce fighter, it's a joy to watch her bloom.

©2018 Sarah Haywood (P)2018 John Murray Press Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt Feel-Good Funny Witty

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Critic reviews

'Quirky, poignant and extremely readable' Sunday Mirror

'Brilliantly comic' The Lady

'Wonderfully funny and astute' Red
All stars
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After a slow start this picked up pace. Remarkably accurate legal stuff and fun narration.

a prickly person

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Absolutely loved it! Great story, fantastic characters and brilliant narration! Looking forward to more by this wonderful author.

Blooming Marvellous

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A very weak story made worse by the reader with her pseudo Brummie accent. Not worth the effort.

A waste of time

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This is a delightful story which I have now listened to twice the narrative tone was easy on the ear also …well done

2nd time around

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You can't help but warm to Susan and her funny ways, it's lovely watching her character evolve as her journey makes her challenge how she's always lived her life. Beautifully narrated.

couldn't stop listening

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I enjoyed it. I sort of worked out where the story was going quite early on, but it was a lovely way to spend a dreary winter’s day and I listened to it in one sitting.
Sarah Haywood did a great job of pacing the story, it wasn’t over written so it kept me interested throughout. It was very witty and funny in parts, a real family tale, warts and all.
The narrator did an excellent job too.
I’d recommend this book to people who enjoy Veronica Henry.

Worth a binge listen on a cold rainy Sunday.

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Audible recommended this to me after I loved Eleanor Oliphant is completely Fine and it didn't disappoint. Telling a similar story of a woman deemed to be past hope. The book delves into her past and present problems making her the woman she is. It is a realistic depiction of many women.

I read this after loving Eleanor Oliphant

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We've all known someone like the lead character in this book, I even found similarities to myself in some ways (blush) but I wasn't expecting to actually get to LIKE her as the tale wore on.

It's a story of day to day living with a lead who is slightly socially inept, tends to bristle along rather than rub along smoothly with others, and the revelations the ends aren't earth shattering but predictable in a comfortable rather than dull way.

Sad when it came to an end but happy for the characters and their ability to resolve some of their issues.

Prickly enjoyment in a story.

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Great story, really heartwarming funny and sad all at the same time.
Narration was fabulous too.

Loved it

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The narrator is excellent at bringing the characters to life and I instantly pictured them as I listened.
A story of families and secrets and every day life, like a soap opera that you can't stop watching.

Easy listening

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