Gotta have Faith: 4th Estate's 24-hour pre-empt for Adelaide Faith 'extraordinary' début

Début author Adelaide Faith’s novel on therapist infatuation has been snapped up by 4th Estate in a 24-hour pre-empt.   

Publishing director Kishani Widyaratna acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Devon Mazzone, vice-president of subsidiary rights at FSG, on behalf of Seren Adams of the newly launched Lexington Literary. World Rights were acquired in a pre-empt by Mitzi Angel at FSG, from Seren Adams at Lexington Literary, after writer Sheila Heti read and recommended the novel. The book will be published in the UK in May 2025.

The novel, according to 4th Estate, centres on Sylvie, who is only happy when she is at therapy because she is in love with her therapist: "She wants to kiss her, roll around on the floor with her, be adopted by her. It’s an obsession, sure, but whether it is—as her therapist suggests—a case of extreme erotic transference, or simply a lost person’s need to connect, Sylvie isn’t sure. When the therapist delivers some devastating news, Sylvie must face an uncertain future and find new and lasting ways of coping in the real world. In this stunning debut, Adelaide Faith encapsulates the great vulnerability, difficulty and joy of being alive."

Widyaratna said: “Happiness Forever is an extraordinary love story all of its own and reading it on submission felt a lot like that irrepressible rush of love at first sight. Adelaide Faith is a singular talent with the originality, disarming humour, clarity of voice and deeply affecting insight of the greatest mould-breaking writers.”

Faith worked as an editor in the Schools department of Channel 4 television before training to be a veterinary nurse at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. Her short fiction has appeared online in Forever Magazine among others. She lives in Hastings.