Thank you to the absolutely gorgeous community of readers and bookstagrammers on Instagram: thank you for your support and your beautiful photos. Particular thanks to Sinead Cuddihy – join her Tired Mammy Book Club on Instagram if you haven’t already! And a big shoutout too to BooKPunK – thank you for all your support.

Thank you as always to OfficeMum readers on Facebook, which is where it all began. Thank you especially for your company during lockdown, which is when I wrote Hide and Seek.

I was delighted to get to know two authors at my own school gate over the last year – there’s nothing quite like having a local tribe who can meet IRL for coffee and support. Big thanks and hugs to Amanda Cassidy and Linda O’Sullivan for all the chats, advice and almond croissants.

Thanks to my Sion Hill pals for your unending support and all the craic in between. Thanks to my sisters and first readers, Nicola, Elaine and Dee. Thank you Dad and Eithne for all the support, and for keeping local booksellers in business!

Thank you to Damien, Elissa, Nia, Matthew and new addition – Lola the dog. Lola didn’t really do anything on Hide and Seek to be honest, but the other four (variously) read, brainstormed, suggested, proof-read, critiqued and provided baked goods. The baked goods are crucial, as every writer knows.

And thank you, dear reader, for reading this book.

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

Find us online and join the conversation

Follow us on Twitter twitter.com/penguinukbooks

Like us on Facebook facebook.com/penguinbooks

Share the love on Instagram instagram.com/penguinukbooks

Watch our authors on YouTube youtube.com/penguinbooks

Pin Penguin books to your Pinterest pinterest.com/penguinukbooks

Listen to audiobook clips at soundcloud.com/penguinbooks

Find out more about the author and discover
your next read at penguin.co.uk

TRANSWORLD

UK | USA | Canada | Ireland | Australia
New Zealand | India | South Africa Transworld is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com.

First published in Great Britain in 2022 by Bantam Press Copyright © Andrea Mara, 2022

The moral right of the author has been asserted Cover design and art direction by Beci Kelly/TW
Cover Photography by Colin Thomas This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Every effort has been made to obtain the necessary permissions with reference to copyright material, both illustrative and quoted. We apologize for any omissions in this respect and will be pleased to make the appropriate acknowledgements in any future edition.

ISBN: 978-1-473-58946-9

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.