Frankie: The most courageous heroine you'll meet this year, from the Sunday Times bestselling author

· Hachette UK
59 reviews
Ebook
304
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

Frankie: the beloved Sunday Times bestseller
'I couldn't stop reading it, but feel bereft now that I've finished'
NIGELLA LAWSON

'A warm, deeply moving, life-enhancing novel'
SARAH WINMAN, AUTHOR OF STILL LIFE

'A masterclass in storytelling that grabs you by the heartstrings from page one'
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT

Frankie Howe was never quite sure enough of herself to take centre stage - after all, life had already judged her harshly. Now in her eighties, she finds it easier to forget the life that came before.

Then Damian, a young Irish carer, arrives at her London flat to keep an eye on her as she recovers from a fall. A memory is sparked, and the past crackles into life as Damian listens to the story Frankie has kept stored away all these years.

From post-war Ireland to 1960s New York - a city full of art, larger-than-life characters and turmoil - Frankie shares a world in which friendship and chance encounters collide. A place where life blazes with an intensity that can't last but will perhaps live on in other ways and in other people. But as Frankie's past slowly emerges, her spirit and endurance are revealed as undeniable . . . and unforgettable.

'Warm and wise, Frankie is a woman worth getting to know'
BONNIE GARMUS, AUTHOR OF LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY

'Frankie is one of the most wonderful characters I've come across in a long time'
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

'A triumph, a beautiful book of sunshine and memory'
ANDREW O'HAGAN, AUTHOR OF CALEDONIAN ROAD

'Immersive, stunningly written, and very emotional . . . his best yet'
JENNIE GODFREY, AUTHOR OF THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS

Readers adore Frankie

'Brilliant . . . It was like hearing the life story of a dear close friend' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'It's perfect' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'So full of joy and sadness and all emotions in between' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'Closing the book was like saying goodbye to a friend' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'Be warned, you'll want to hear Frankie's story in one go!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Frankie: the beloved Sunday Times bestseller 'I couldn't stop reading it, but feel bereft now that I've finished' NIGELLA LAWSON 'A warm, deeply moving, life-enhancing novel' SARAH WINMAN, AUTHOR OF STILL LIFE 'A masterclass in storytelling that grabs you by the heartstrings from page one' SUNDA...

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Ratings and reviews

59 reviews
Lesley
October 9, 2026
I've loved following Frankie's story. There are happy times, sad times, and lots of funny moments, with a satisfying ending. I appreciate Graham Norton insights into human nature. Love, compassion, and humour shine through in his writing.
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janne Cassidy
January 17, 2026
My first time reading a book by Graham. I was presently surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Have just downloaded a second of his, hopefully it will also be an enjoyable read.
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sandra molloy
January 21, 2025
Graham Norton has the speil of an Irish Gaelgor and the attentions of a nutter, he is a fantastic author and nothing like what he protrays to be outside his fantasy world that is his life.
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About the author

Graham Norton is the author of five hugely successful novels, all of which have been bestsellers in the UK and Ireland and have won or been shortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards. His writing has won him critical acclaim in media and from the literary community across the world. Graham's debut novel Holding was made into a high-profile TV drama in 2022, and Home Stretch and Forever Home have both been optioned for major TV series.

He is a five-time BAFTA TV Award winner for The Graham Norton Show, which has been running for almost two decades, and is known internationally for commentating on the Eurovision Song Contest and as a recurring judge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK.

Graham Norton is the author of five hugely successful novels, all of which have been bestsellers in the UK and Ireland and have won or been shortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards. His writing has won him critical acclaim in media and from the literary community across the world. Graham's d...

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