Reasons to be Cheerful

Winner of the 2019 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction

By: Nina Stibbe

Narrated by: Gemma Whelan

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Reasons to Be Cheerful by Nina Stibbe.

18 year old Lizzie Vogel finds herself a new job in a dentist's surgery after answering a classified advert in the Leicester Mercury for a 'mature lady with a strong interest in dental issues'. Working for an eccentric dental surgeon who's obsessed with becoming a Freemason, Lizzie's life is uneventful, until Andy Nicolello turns up one day to deliver a crown. Lizzie seizes her chance to find love, and soon begins calling him her boyfriend even though they have never so much as kissed or even sat next to each other on the sofa. But Andy doesn't turn out to be quite what he seems...

Reasons to be Cheerful is a painfully funny account of life as a hapless teenager in 1970s Leicestershire from the bestselling author of Love, Nina, Man at the Helm and Paradise Lodge.

Critic reviews

Pitch perfect vintage comedy

Lives up to its title

My friends, you will UTTERLY ADORE Nina Stibbe's latest novel Reasons To Be Cheerful . . .It is SO SO funny, charming, odd-in-the-best-way and gorgeously uplifting! A delight from start to finish (Marian Keyes)

Stibbe's comedy probes what it means to become an adult, and how we form our financial, sexual, moral and political selves

So dense with amusing detail that I thought about holding the book upside down to see if any extra funny bits might spill from the creases between the page

I read all of Reasons To Be Cheerful last night in one GLORIOUS gulp and it's SUCH a joy - Nina Stibbe turns out more perfect, sharp, unique sentences than anyone else in the game. It just CARTWHEELS (Caitlin Moran)

If you loved Adrian Mole you'll adore Lizzie Vogel . . . quirky and witty, it also packs an emotional punch

Comedy gold . . . Reasons To Be Cheerful is just the read you need right now, seamlessly weaving together the big themes of life with charm and warmth

Reasons to be Cheerful's tone has been compared to Sue Townsend's but I could haul in Alan Bennett, Barbara Pym and even Jane Austen . . . she writes brilliantly

The true heir to Sue Townsend (Caitlin Moran)

Delightful!

Reasons to be Cheerful was a pleasure to listen to! The quirky characters made me laugh, and the main character I found endearing and easy to love. The story was well written, often humorous, and carried an important message without being preachy. Gemma Whelan's narration only added to the fun. I look forward to more books by Nina Stibbe and hopefully narrated by Gemma Whelan.

Somewhat disappointing.

As much as I enjoy and appreciate British storytelling, this book is not what the summary hints toward. It isn’t bad, but just okay. Gemma’s performance is great.

Cleverly humorous.

This author was mentioned in the New York Times and I’m so glad to have listened to all her books so far.

loved it

what a delightful book. there were enough literary references and topical plot threads to make a fun and sweet story healthy as well as delicious.

Charming

I read the review in the NYT and was intrigued. What a charming girl. I’m a sucker for quirky families and loved Lizzie. Laughing out loud while driving is the best barometer for a good book