My Phantoms

By: Gwendoline Riley

Narrated by: Hannah Curtis

A hostile mother-daughter relationship stands at the center of this astonishing, blackly humorous novel by the acclaimed author of First Love.

Helen Grant is a mystery to her daughter. An extrovert with few friends who has sought intimacy in the wrong places, a twice-divorced mother of two now living alone surrounded by her memories, Helen (known to her acquaintances as “Hen”) has always haunted Bridget.

Now, Bridget is an academic in her forties. She sees Helen once a year, and considers the problem to be contained. As she looks back on their tumultuous relationship—the performances and small deceptions—she tries to reckon with the cruelties inflicted on both sides. But when Helen makes it clear that she wants more, it seems an old struggle will have to be replayed.

From the prize-winning author of First Love, My Phantoms is a bold, heart-stopping portrayal of a failed familial bond, which brings humor, subtlety, and new life to the difficult terrain of mothers and daughters.

©2022 Gwendoline Riley (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Astonishing, strangely addictive

Brilliant, fearless, devastating, staggeringly bleak — and one of the most screamingly funny books ever. Riley's dialogue is incomparably acute. Quite an emotionally daunting work - not a safe choice for the very sensitive. Her best book and one of the indispensable novels of this decade. The audiobook performer, also, is better than good.

Brilliant Fiction

Brilliant in-depth study about a mother-daughter relationship over time. Perspectives of both are given equal time and in the end no one is at fault.
The narrator, Hannah Curtis is phenomenal and I hope to listen to her again in the future.