Some people seem to find love like it’s easy. They achieve that Disney fairytale romance, and live happily together forever and ever. So, what about the people who don’t?

After Marnie is dumped by her boyfriend, her fifth in a decade, she decides to completely swear off all men. In her experience, they either become bored with her, or only want casual sex – or that god-awful curse known as the ‘situationship’. Marnie is done with dating.

Then she meets Isaac, an unfairly handsome man who is clever and funny, and their banter flows so effortlessly it’s as though they’ve known each other forever. Finally, she has met Mr Perfect. So when Marnie learns that he already has a girlfriend, she begins to ask the questions she’s never asked herself before: who is she when she is alone? It is terrifying being single, but is it really better being someone’s second option? Is it truly love if you change who you are for your partner, rather than loving who you actually are?

Everyone wants to skip forward past the sad, lonely parts of life with a magic remote-control button and get to the scene where they are happily in love with their soulmate. But why is it always thought that the sad parts of your life are when you’re single? In her exploration of self-identity, Marnie finds love within herself, with life, and with the endless opportunities it has to offer besides romance.

Genevieve Novak pierces you with the agonising, cold truths no one wants to hear, but everyone needs to. Crushing is that best friend whose shoulder you cry on, that piece of chocolate you unforgivingly indulge in – every emotion and craving is poured out, and Marnie, who understands more than anyone, is there to listen, to cry with you, and yet wake up with you each day, growing stronger and happier