Weirdo to be published in September

Sara Pascoe has written her first novel, Weirdo.

The book – out on September 14 – revolves around a young woman called Sophie who tries to suppress her ‘light paranoia, pornographic visualisations and pathological lying’ in order to get the guy she wants.

Pascoe has previously written two factual books mixing biography, sociology and science: Animal: The Autobiography of a Female Body in 2016 and Sex Power Money in 2020.

Weirdo will be published by Faber, whose associate publishers Louisa Joyner and Laura Hassan said in a statement: ‘Sara’s work has been at the heart of Faber’s non-fiction publishing for years.

‘We’re super excited about this new foray into fiction – it’s every bit as brilliant and has Sara’s signature wit, channelling the weirdo in us all.’

Pascoe – who is currently on tour with her stand-up show Success Story – told trade website The Bookseller: ‘It’s been such a joy to be telling someone else’s secrets instead of my own, and even better, a fictional person who can’t get annoyed with me.’

Blurb for the book says: ‘Deep in Essex and her own thoughts, Sophie had a feeling something was going to happen and then it did. Chris has entered the pub and re-entered her life after Sophie had finally stopped thinking about him and regretting what she'd done.

‘Sophie has a chance at creating a new ending and paying off her emotional debts (if not her financial ones). All she has to do is act exactly like a normal, well-adjusted person and not say any of her inner monologue out loud. If she can suppress her light paranoia, pornographic visualisations and pathological lying maybe she'll even end up getting the guy she wants? Then she could dump her boyfriend Ian and try to enjoy Christmas.

As well as her comedy work, Pascoe hosts BBC Two’s The Great British Sewing Bee and fronted the travelogue series Last Woman On Earth, in which she tries her hand at jobs on the verge of becoming obsolete.

Weirdo can be ordered from Amazon for £13.19, or signed copies are available from Waterstones, priced £14.99.

Published: 9 Mar 2023