Life, Death and Vanilla Slices

Jean Collins had two daughters. But she only loved one of them.

She knew it was wrong, but she just couldn't help herself. Jess was a little sweetheart, everyone said so. Anne was awkward and serious and not much fun, to be frank.

But now the years have passed. Jess is missing - run off long ago, no one knows where or why. So when Jean is left in a coma after a road accident, it's Anne who travels back up north to sit at her mother's bedside. And she wonders - why did Jean dash out into the road without looking? What distracted her? And why was she carrying a box of vanilla slices, the cream cakes she only ever bought for extra special occasions?

Meanwhile there are secrets waiting for Anne and Jean, back at the old family home. Secrets that were buried a long time ago. . .

“Very dark and very funny. I had it glued to my face until I'd finished it”

Of course it's funny, but it's also dark, honest and totally compulsive reading - Jenny Colgan

- Jo Brand

Utterly compelling, brave, angry and melancholy all at once. It is brutal about the female experience, but also beautifully observed about the subtle complexities of being a woman. I thought Jean was an amazing character - and it is testament to Jenny's skill as a writer that despite some awful behaviour, the reader never actually loses sympathy for her. Most of all, it's just a great, honest piece of writing. I want to read her others now - Jojo Moyes

Jenny Eclair is one of the most successful performers on the comedy stand-up circuit, the sole female winner of the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Festival, and regularly appears on BBC Radio.

Jean Collins had two daughters. But she only loved one of them. She knew it was wrong, but she just couldn't help herself. Jess was a little sweetheart, everyone said so. Anne was awkward and serious and not much fun, to be frank. But now the years have passed. Jess is missing - run off long ago, no one knows where or why. So when Jean is left in a coma after a road accident, it's Anne who travels back up north to sit with her mother. And she wonders - why did Jean dash out into the road without looking? What distracted her? And why was she carrying a box of vanilla slices, the cream cakes she only ever bought for extra special occasions? Meanwhile there are secrets waiting for Anne and Jean, back at the old family home. Secrets that were buried a long time ago . . . 'Utterly compelling, brave, angry and melancholy all at once [and] beautifully observed about the subtle complexities of being a woman. Most of all, it's just a great, honest piece of writing' Jojo Moyes 'Of course it's funny, but it's also dark, honest and totally compulsive' Jenny Colgan

Jean Collins had two daughters. But she only loved one of them.She knew it was wrong, but she just couldn't help herself. Jess was a little sweetheart, everyone said so. Anne was awkward and serious and not much fun, to be frank.But now the years have passed. Jess is missing - run off long ago, no one knows where or why. So when Jean is left in a coma after a road accident, it's Anne who travels back up north to sit at her mother's bedside. And she wonders - why did Jean dash out into the road without looking? What distracted her? And why was she carrying a box of vanilla slices, the cream cakes she only ever bought for extra special occasions?Meanwhile there are secrets waiting for Anne and Jean, back at the old family home. Secrets that were buried a long time ago. . .

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