Barnett moves to Doubleday in new two-book deal

Laura Barnett is moving to Doubleday in a new two-book deal.  

Kirsty Dunseath, publisher, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to Births, Deaths and Marriages and one other novel from Judith Murray of Greene & Heaton. It will publish in early 2025. Dunseath was Barnett’s former editor at W&N.  

Dunseath said: “It is an absolute joy to be reunited with Laura! She is an author with such unique insight into human emotions and entanglements, and her writing sings off the page. She is acutely perceptive and brings all of that intelligence to the brilliant characters she breathes life into. Her new novel, Births, Deaths and Marriages – to be delivered next year – plays to all of Laura’s strengths, that emotional heartland. It’s like ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ meets ‘When Harry Met Sally’ but written with Laura’s unique literary style and flair. We have great ambitions for Laura and are incredibly excited about her future.”

Barnett added: “I am beyond excited to be reunited with Kirsty and to be moving to Doubleday. I’ve long admired the imprint from afar, and I consider it an honour to be published by it. My next novel, Births, Deaths and Marriages, is about a midwife falling in love with a funeral celebrant, and their wider group of forty-something university friends navigating life, love and loss in a world that appears to have gone stark raving mad. It has a similar widescreen scope and emotive atmosphere as my début, The Versions of Us (W&N) and Doubleday is the perfect literary home for it, and for my ongoing writing career.”