A very warm welcome to the wonderful world of Mary Brown. This is the first in a series of novels about a gorgeous new heroine. Mary is a binge-drinking, pizza-loving, cake-adoring woman who knows she needs to sort her life out, but she's having so much fun drinking, eating and partying non-stop. Like most people, she'd love a relationship with someone wonderful. She'd like to fall in love but continually sabotages her best efforts. Even when she meets a lovely man, she continues to dabble with the incredibly handsome man who lives in the flat below (Downstairs Dave) and messes everything up for herself. By day, she works in a DIY and gardening centre, trying to do as little work as possible but still managing to get into so much trouble that her boss has to haul her into his office every week to reprimand her. Away from work, she is a delightful whirlwind of chaos in elasticated-waist trousers. Her curious manner and reckless approach to life lead her to fall face-first into a series of adventures and mysteries. She’s Bridget Jones meets Miranda with a sprinkling of Melissa McCarthy. Mary gets herself into extraordinary situations, meets outrageous people, and has the best fun. I hope you enjoy the adventure. x What are people saying? "This is one memorable book with so many relatable and realistic characters." "Mary Brown is just wonderful, and I challenge you to read this and not be amused I am so looking forward to reading anything else that Bernice Bloom writes." "Bernice has a wonderful way with words and incorporates so much into a few pages. The books make you think about your own issues.” “A wonderful pick-you-up, feel-good read." "I had to stifle giggles on more than one occasion." "It is the first book in a long time that had me laugh out loud!" “Mary is like everyone who has ever tried to lose weight. This novel is funny & remarkably tender.” It's funny, warm and tender." Cosmo. "This book is utterly hilarious." "This is one memorable book with so many relatable and realistic characters." "Mary Brown is wonderful, and I challenge you to read this and not be amused by the book. I am so looking forward to reading anything else that Bernice Bloom writes." Meet Mary Brown She is about 50 lbs overweight, and when she realises she can't cross her legs and has trouble bending over to tie her shoelaces without wheezing like an elderly chain smoker, she knows it's time to take action. So, one rainy day, she puts down her pizza and heads off to Fat Club, where she flirts, causes mayhem, and celebrates every pound lost with a huge glass of wine. And that’s just the start of it. She meets a man called Ted, whom she pursues like a lunatic…turning up at his work conference in Amsterdam and at parties she thinks he’s going to. But then there’s ... * Dishy Dave who lives downstairs…he’s so handsome. * The beautician’s appointment that leaves her looking like a boiled tomato. * Her efforts to learn to drive almost see her arrested * Efforts to get into dresses that are three sizes too small * The sheer joy of a woman who is living life to the full ‘Join the world of Mary Brown today. You won’t regret it.’ “You will adore this book.” "I cried with laughter. Mary is like everyone who's ever tried to lose weight," Daily Mail. "Bernice has a wonderful way with words. She incorporates much into a few pages that make you think so much - about your own issues or of those you see around you. A wonderful pick you up, feel-good read." "I had to stifle giggles on more than one occasion." "It is the first book in a long time that had me laugh out loud!"