Ripeness by Sarah Moss

From £9.99

The perfect book club spring read from the Sunday Times bestselling author. In 1960s Italy, a family secret rips a teenage girl’s world apart, only for her to discover its true meaning decades later.

Published 28 May 2026 (Preorder)
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About The Book

In 1960s Italy, a family secret rips a teenage girl’s world apart, only for her to discover its true meaning decades later. ‘Moss makes every moment count’ – The Sunday Times’A book of lasting pleasures’ – Eleanor Catton’Powerful and beautifully written’ – The GuardianJust out of school and teetering on the brink of adulthood, Edith is sent alone to rural Italy.

Her task is simple: support her sister Lydia, a brilliant but brittle ballet dancer, through the final weeks of her pregnancy. Once the baby is born, she is to make a phone call that will change all of their lives forever. Decades later, Edith is living a contented life in Ireland, happily divorced and finally free.

But with the arrival of an unexpected message, Edith must face the truth of that long-ago summer, and the secret she has carried for a lifetime.

About the Author

Sarah Moss is Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at University College Dublin’s School of English, Drama and Film in the Republic of Ireland. She has published six novels as well as a number of non-fiction works. Her work has been nominated three times for the Wellcome Book Prize., Sarah Moss is the author of several novels and a memoir of her year living in Iceland, Names for the Sea, shortlisted for the RSL Ondaatje Prize. Her novels are Summerwater, Cold Earth, Night Waking, Bodies of Light (shortlisted for the Wellcome Book Prize), Signs for Lost Children (shortlisted for the Wellcome Book Prize), The Tidal Zone (shortlisted for the Wellcome Book Prize) and Ghost Wall, which was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2019.

Sarah was born in Glasgow and grew up in the north of England. After moving between Oxford, Canterbury, Reykjavik and West Cornwall, she now lives in the Midlands and is Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Warwick.

Binding

Paperback

Author

ISBN

9781529035520

Page Count

304

Publisher

Picador

Published

28 May 2026

Optional Extras

We have lots of bookish add-ons available! From Bookmarks to mini wax melt burners, book holders, book baskets, coffee and chocolate – we have plenty of items to add something a little special. Take a look at all of our options here.

* Gallery images of our book boxes show an example of what may be included – treat and gift content may differ. If a wax melt bar is included, scent is subject to availability and may differ. If you have any dietary needs or allergies please add a note at checkout.

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