the Cactus: how a prickly heroine learns to bloom: New York bestselling debut soon be Netflix film starring Reese Witherspoon

Soon to be a Netflix Original starring Reese Witherspoon as control-queen Susan Green, who aged 45 falls unexpectedly pregnant, and real life in all its messiness shows her it's never too late to bloom. Meet Susan Green: a prickly, independent woman who has everything just the way she wants it.At forty-five, she thinks her life is perfect: a London flat for one, a job that fulfills her passion for logic, and a personal arrangement that provides cultural and other - more intimate - benefits. There's no room for messy, emotional relationships.Yet following the loss of her mother and, implausibly, the prospect of becoming a mother herself, Susan's life is about to become somewhat messier.This sparkling debut packs a real emotional punch, its heroine as exasperating and delightful as The Rosie Project's Don Tillman. An uncompromising feminist and a fierce fighter, it's a joy to watch her bloom.THE CACTUS is Sarah Haywood's first novel.tworoadsbooks.comsarahhaywoodauthor.co.uk@tworoadsbooks@SarahxHaywood/TwoRoadsBooks/SarahHaywoodAuthor[insert author picture credit Rachel Ryan][insert Two Roads logo] SOON TO BE A NETFLIX ORIGINAL STARRING REESE WITHERSPOONA REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK'I found myself laughing out loud at Susan's prickly character' Reese WitherspoonTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER SHORTLISTED FOR THE BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD A RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB PICKPeople aren't sure what to make of Susan Green. Family and colleagues find her prickly and hard to understand - but Susan makes perfect sense to herself. Age 45, she thinks her life is perfect. She has a London flat which is ideal for one; a steady job that suits her passion for logic; and a personal arrangement providing cultural and other, more intimate, benefits. Yet suddenly faced with the loss of her mother and, implausibly, with the possibility of becoming a mother herself, Susan's greatest fear is being realised: she is losing control. And things can only get worse ... at least in Susan's eyes. This sparkling debut is a breath of fresh air with real heart and a powerful emotional punch. In Susan we find a character as exasperating and delightful as The Rosie Project's Don Tillman. An uncompromising feminist and a fierce fighter, it's a joy to watch her bloom.'Quirky, poignant and extremely readable' Sunday Mirror'Brilliantly comic' The Lady'Wonderfully funny and astute' Red'Funny, compelling, well-written...for fans of Marian Keyes who demand a bit of grit in their comic writing' Emerald Street