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The Back Up Man by Phoebe Luckhurst
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The Back Up Man

The hilarious and heartwarming brand new romcom perfect for fans of The Flatshare
Due to publisher restrictions, this audiobook is unavailable for purchase in your selected country.
Narrator Cathleen McCarron

This audiobook uses AI narration.

Weโ€™re taking steps to make sure AI narration is transparent.

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Length 11 hours 55 minutes
Language English
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Brought to you by Penguin.

They made a pact to marry at thirty.

The problem? Euan's nowhere to be found.

Can Anya track down her back up man . . . ?

Shortly after her 29th birthday, Anya Mackie finds herself single, homeless and jobless. Well-meaning friends and family rally round, but she's soon stuck in a flatshare with Cold Claire and Weird Richard, and babysitting Glasgow's most unappealing twins.

But when Anya stumbles on the pact she made with high school crush, Euan Carrick, where they promised to marry if they were still single at thirty, she thinks it's a lifeline. Until Anya discovers that Euan hasn't been seen for a decade.

Grudgingly accepting the help (and car!) of handsome-but-emotionally-unavailable Jamie Kildare - another blast from Anya's past, with his own mysterious reasons for tracking down their old school pal, the pair set off across the country to find Anya's back-up-man.

In the age of social media and blue ticks, how could Euan have disappeared?
Will he even remember their pact?
And are some things just better left in the past . . . ?

The Back Up Man is a hilariously romantic tale of mishaps and matrimony, love and long shots, foibles and friendship, that may make you text that old school boyfriend of yours . . .

Praise for Phoebe Luckhurst:

'Entertaining, endearing, and truly unique. Found myself wincing and laughing with familiarity'
Emma Gannon
'The year's most original rom-com' Elle
'Hilarious' Evening Standard
'Nostalgic, pitch perfect' Cressida McLaughlin
'Funny and compelling from page one' Lucy Vine

ยฉ2023 Phoebe Luckhurst (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Phoebe Luckhurst was born in London and brought up in Glasgow. She is a Senior Commissioning Editor at The Sunday Times Magazine, and has written features and interviews for the Guardian, Sunday Times Style, Elle, ES Magazine, Grazia, the Telegraph and Vogue. Phoebe has had the theme tune to The OC stuck in her head since 2003 and once almost spent her student loan on a micro-pig. She no longer shops online when drunk.
The Lock In was her debut novel, and her second, The Back Up Man, will be published in 2023.

Illustration of person sitting

Shop small, give big!

With credit bundles, you choose the number of credits and your recipient picks their audiobooks—all in support of local bookstores.

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Phone showing make the switch message

Limited-time offer

Get two free audiobooks!

Nowโ€™s a great time to shop indie. When you start a new one credit per month membership supporting local bookstores with promo code SWITCH, weโ€™ll give you two bonus audiobook credits at sign-up.

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Reviews

Phoebe Luckhurst is one of the funniest new novelists out there. Perfect for anyone who has ever attempted to stalk an ex on Facebook (all of us, then) Praise for Phoebe Luckhurst David Nicholls for millennials . . . a dream read Entertaining, endearing, and truly unique. Found myself wincing and laughing with familiarity The year's most original rom-com Immensely readable, witty and well-crafted Fresh, funny, satisfying - it's everything I want in a book Funny and uplifting Delightful and uplifting. Brimming with nostalgia and warmth. A cosy, heartfelt novel that celebrates life for all of its messy, joyful and far-fetched twists and turns, making for a great read to brighten up the winter months A romcom with depth and substance and also, refreshingly, set in Glasgow An entertaining romcom with a very relatable set-up. Luckhurst is a terrific writer. The Back Up Man goes down like a good cup of tea - you know what to expect, but it doesn't make it any less warm, comforting or enjoyable A charming romance I adored The Back Up Man! Phoebe is so funny, with such a brilliant observational eye and a perfect ear for dialogue. An absolute delight You'll have a lot of fun An entertaining tail of friendship full of squirming setbacks and humorous happenings Expand reviews
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