Simply Beside Herself

Simply Beside Herself by Judith Katherine is a warm, gently funny contemporary Australian novel about late-life independence, family ties and the quiet courage it takes to start again. When Elizabeth spots a dead body on a park bench—one that looks exactly like her—she takes it as a blunt message: stop waiting. With retirement home staff too rushed to truly notice her, she makes an audacious choice and walks out, determined to reconnect with the parts of herself she’s mislaid.

As Elizabeth disappears from routine, her daughter Lara’s carefully scheduled life begins to wobble, and her teenage granddaughter Evie’s troubles can’t be sidestepped any longer. Each woman is pushed to reckon with change, responsibility and the need to be properly seen.

Perfect for readers who love women’s fiction, intergenerational stories and character-driven novels with heart.

Add it to your basket and spend some time with these three unforgettable voices.