Falling Short: The fresh, funny and life-affirming debut novel

Frances Pilgrim is 39 and still losing things, including her father who went missing when she was five. Her mother's Alzheimer's is leaving her with questions about his disappearance and the family history she's always believed in. She wants to talk to Jackson, a fellow teacher and former best friend, but they haven't spoken since last summer when things got complicated. As the new school year begins, Frances realizes she might have a chance to find something, but will it be what she's looking for?

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 14 June 2018
Publisher: John Murray Press

Frances Pilgrim's life has been a series of unfortunate events ever since her father went missing when she was just five years old. From lost car keys to underwhelming promotions and a string of unsuitable boyfriends, it seems that everything that can go wrong, does go wrong for her. Now, at the age of thirty-nine, Frances finds herself teaching Shakespeare to rowdy sixth formers and still struggling to keep track of her belongings. However, her biggest concern lies in her mother's deteriorating health, as she is slowly succumbing to Alzheimer's disease. This has left Frances with a multitude of disturbing questions about her father's disappearance and the family history she had always believed in.

Feeling overwhelmed and in need of someone to talk to, Frances turns to her former best friend, Jackson. Jackson, a fellow teacher and dedicated hedonist, had been a constant support to Frances throughout their friendship. However, things had become complicated between them after that night last summer when they had a heated argument. Despite the tension between them, Frances cannot help but feel that Jackson might be the only person who can understand what she is going through.

As the new school year begins, Frances's mother's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, leaving Frances feeling helpless and alone. However, amidst the chaos, Frances sees an opportunity to finally find something that she has been searching for her entire life. She decides to take matters into her own hands and sets out to uncover the truth about her father's disappearance and the family history that has been shrouded in mystery.

With determination and perseverance, Frances begins to dig deeper into her family's past, using her knowledge of Shakespeare and her keen intuition to piece together the fragments of information that she has gathered. She spends countless hours researching, reading old documents, and interviewing family members, all in an effort to unravel the mystery that has haunted her for so long.

As she delves deeper into the past, Frances begins to realize that there are more secrets and lies than she could have ever imagined. She discovers that her father may not have disappeared as she had always believed, and that the family history she had been taught was not entirely accurate. She also learns that her mother's illness may be linked to her father's disappearance, and that there may be more to the story than she had ever suspected.

Despite the obstacles and challenges that she faces, Frances remains determined to find the truth. She pushes herself to her limits, using all of her skills and resources to uncover the secrets that have been hidden from her for so long. She is aided in her quest by Jackson, who, despite their past disagreements, comes to her aid and offers his support.

As Frances closes in on the truth, she begins to realize that it may not be what she had hoped for. She learns that her father may have been involved in something illegal or dangerous, and that his disappearance may have been connected to his involvement in a criminal organization. This revelation shocks Frances, as she had always believed that her father was a good man who had simply disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

Despite the disappointment and shock that she feels, Frances remains determined to find the truth and bring closure to the situation. She knows that it may not be easy, but she is willing to do whatever it takes to find the answers that she seeks. With Jackson by her side, Frances continues to dig deeper into the past, using her knowledge of Shakespeare and her intuition to piece together the fragments of information that she has gathered.

Finally, after months of tireless research and investigation, Frances discovers the truth about her father's disappearance. It is not what she had hoped for, but it is the truth nonetheless. She learns that her father had been involved in a criminal organization and that his disappearance was likely connected to his involvement in a crime. However, she also discovers that there is more to the story than she had ever imagined, and that her mother may have been involved in the criminal organization as well.

Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, Frances decides to take a break from her search for the truth. She knows that she has come a long way and that she has learned a lot about herself and her family. She also knows that there is still more to uncover and that she will continue to search for the truth in the future.

In the end, Frances realizes that her father's disappearance was not the end of the world, but rather a new beginning. She learns that she is stronger and more resilient than she ever thought possible, and that she has the courage and determination to face any challenge that comes her way. She also realizes that she has the support of her family and friends, and that they will always be there for her when she needs them.

As the new school year begins, Frances returns to her teaching job with a renewed sense of purpose and determination. She knows that she has a lot to offer her students, and that she is ready to face whatever challenges come her way. With Jackson by her side
Frances Pilgrim's life has been a series of unfortunate events ever since her father went missing when she was just five years old. From lost car keys to underwhelming promotions and a string of unsuitable boyfriends, it seems that everything that can go wrong, does go wrong for her. Now, at the age of thirty-nine, Frances finds herself teaching Shakespeare to rowdy sixth formers and still struggling to keep track of her belongings. However, her biggest concern lies in her mother's deteriorating health, as she is slowly succumbing to Alzheimer's disease. This has left Frances with a multitude of disturbing questions about her father's disappearance and the family history she had always believed in.

Feeling overwhelmed and in need of someone to talk to, Frances turns to her former best friend, Jackson. Jackson, a fellow teacher and dedicated hedonist, had been a constant support to Frances throughout their friendship. However, things had become complicated between them after that night last summer when they had a heated argument. Despite the tension between them, Frances cannot help but feel that Jackson might be the only person who can understand what she is going through.

As the new school year begins, Frances's mother's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, leaving Frances feeling helpless and alone. However, amidst the chaos, Frances sees an opportunity to finally find something that she has been searching for her entire life. She decides to take matters into her own hands and sets out to uncover the truth about her father's disappearance and the family history that has been shrouded in mystery.

With determination and perseverance, Frances begins to dig deeper into her family's past, using her knowledge of Shakespeare and her keen intuition to piece together the fragments of information that she has gathered. She spends countless hours researching, reading old documents, and interviewing family members, all in an effort to unravel the mystery that has haunted her for so long.

As she delves deeper into the past, Frances begins to realize that there are more secrets and lies than she could have ever imagined. She discovers that her father may not have disappeared as she had always believed, and that the family history she had been taught was not entirely accurate. She also learns that her mother's illness may be linked to her father's disappearance, and that there may be more to the story than she had ever suspected.

Despite the obstacles and challenges that she faces, Frances remains determined to find the truth. She pushes herself to her limits, using all of her skills and resources to uncover the secrets that have been hidden from her for so long. She is aided in her quest by Jackson, who, despite their past disagreements, comes to her aid and offers his support.

As Frances closes in on the truth, she begins to realize that it may not be what she had hoped for. She learns that her father may have been involved in something illegal or dangerous, and that his disappearance may have been connected to his involvement in a criminal organization. This revelation shocks Frances, as she had always believed that her father was a good man who had simply disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

Despite the disappointment and shock that she feels, Frances remains determined to find the truth and bring closure to the situation. She knows that it may not be easy, but she is willing to do whatever it takes to find the answers that she seeks. With Jackson by her side, Frances continues to dig deeper into the past, using her knowledge of Shakespeare and her intuition to piece together the fragments of information that she has gathered.

Finally, after months of tireless research and investigation, Frances discovers the truth about her father's disappearance. It is not what she had hoped for, but it is the truth nonetheless. She learns that her father had been involved in a criminal organization and that his disappearance was likely connected to his involvement in a crime. However, she also discovers that there is more to the story than she had ever imagined, and that her mother may have been involved in the criminal organization as well.

Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, Frances decides to take a break from her search for the truth. She knows that she has come a long way and that she has learned a lot about herself and her family. She also knows that there is still more to uncover and that she will continue to search for the truth in the future.

In the end, Frances realizes that her father's disappearance was not the end of the world, but rather a new beginning. She learns that she is stronger and more resilient than she ever thought possible, and that she has the courage and determination to face any challenge that comes her way. She also realizes that she has the support of her family and friends, and that they will always be there for her when she needs them.

As the new school year begins, Frances returns to her teaching job with a renewed sense of purpose and determination. She knows that she has a lot to offer her students, and that she is ready to face whatever challenges come her way. With Jackson by her side, Frances sets out to inspire and educate her students, using her knowledge of Shakespeare and her passion for teaching to help them unlock their potential and achieve their goals.

As the school year progresses, Frances notices that her mother's condition is worsening. She spends more and more time caring for her, trying to keep her safe and comfortable. But as the disease takes its toll, Frances realizes that she can no longer keep up with the demands of her mother's care. She decides to seek help from a professional care facility, where her mother can receive the specialized care she needs.

At first, Frances is hesitant to leave her mother in the care of strangers. But as she spends more time at the facility, she realizes that her mother is in good hands. The staff are kind and compassionate, and they take great care of her mother. Frances also meets other families who are going through similar struggles, and she finds solace in their support and understanding.

As the months go by, Frances visits her mother regularly at the care facility. She talks to her, reads to her, and spends time with her. She also takes part in activities and events organized by the facility, such as art classes and music therapy. Through these activities, Frances learns that her mother still has a spark of life inside her, and that she can still find joy and meaning in her life.

Despite the challenges and difficulties of caring for her mother, Frances feels grateful for the time she has spent with her. She knows that her mother loves her and that she has done everything she can to care for her. And as she watches her mother smile and laugh, Frances knows that she has made the right decision to seek help and provide her with the best possible care.

In the end, Frances learns that caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease is a difficult and challenging journey. But with the support of family and friends, and with the help of professional care facilities, it is possible to provide loved ones with the best possible care and support. And as she looks back on her journey, Frances knows that she has learned a lot about herself and her mother, and that she has become a stronger and more compassionate person because of it.

As the new school year begins, Frances returns to her teaching job with a renewed sense of purpose and determination. She knows that she has a lot to offer her students, and that she is ready to face whatever challenges come her way. With Jackson by her side, Frances sets out to inspire and educate her students, using her knowledge of Shakespeare and her passion for teaching to help them unlock their potential and achieve their goals.

As the school year progresses, Frances notices that her mother's condition is worsening. She spends more and more time caring for her, trying to keep her safe and comfortable. But as the disease takes its toll, Frances realizes that she can no longer keep up with the demands of her mother's care. She decides to seek help from a professional care facility, where her mother can receive the specialized care she needs.

At first, Frances is hesitant to leave her mother in the care of strangers. But as she spends more time at the facility, she realizes that her mother is in good hands. The staff are kind and compassionate, and they take great care of her mother. Frances also meets other families who are going through similar struggles, and she finds solace in their support and understanding.

As the months go by, Frances visits her mother regularly at the care facility. She talks to her, reads to her, and spends time with her. She also takes part in activities and events organized by the facility, such as art classes and music therapy. Through these activities, Frances learns that her mother still has a spark of life inside her, and that she can still find joy and meaning in her life.

Despite the challenges and difficulties of caring for her mother, Frances feels grateful for the time she has spent with her. She knows that her mother loves her and that she has done everything she can to care for her. And as she watches her mother smile and laugh, Frances knows that she has made the right decision to seek help and provide her with the best possible care.

In the end, Frances learns that caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease is a difficult and challenging journey. But with the support of family and friends, and with the help of professional care facilities, it is possible to provide loved ones with the best possible care and support. And as she looks back on her journey, Frances knows that she has learned a lot about herself and her mother, and that she has become a stronger and more compassionate person because of it.

Weight: 434g
Dimension: 213 x 139 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781473669581