Gray brings more unexpected joy to Octopus

Octopus imprint Aster has bought two new titles from Catherine Gray, author of hit debut The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, which Aster also published.

Stephanie Jackson, Octopus publishing director, acquired world English rights from Rachel Mills at Furniss Lawton for The Unexpected Joy of Being Single, as well as The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober Journal. Both will be published on 27th December 2018.

In The Unexpected Joy of Being Single, Catherine Gray topples the preconceptions that those who remain single are outliers, misfits or oddballs who can't find someone to love them, questioning why, if being single is so bad, why are over half of Brits aged 25-44 choosing it over coupledom?

Stephanie Jackson said of the acquisition: “Catherine Gray’s groundbreaking, razor-sharp and revealing new book The Unexpected Joy of Being Single shows us – with honesty, integrity and heart – that the single state is to be enjoyed and embraced. And it might just be the time of your life. I couldn’t be more thrilled to work again with someone whose generosity in sharing her own struggles and successes has helped transform so many lives for the better. She inspires me every day.”

Gray,a writer and editor who has worked for publications including Cosmopolitan, GLAMOUR and Fabulous, and many more, said: "We've been societally programmed to place finding our other half, our lobster, our 'reason for being', above everything else in life. I spent my twenties and early thirties frantically husband-hunting, launching myself from relationship to relationship, fearful of being single, and intent on dating like it was my job. Until I realised life is so much bigger than our love lives. Research shows that those in couples are generally only one per cent happier, would you believe?

"This book seeks to crack open those myths once and for all; that singles are sorrowful, selfish and unwanted, while couples are much happier. We're in the thick of a global single revolution (or 'crisis', depending on who you're talking to) as billions discover that being single isn't what we've been taught, and coupled often isn't what it's cracked up to be. Once you adjust your perception of it, single can be just as satisfying and fun as the alternative. It's time both lifestyle choices were seen as equally valid."

Meanwhile The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober Journal is a guided focus journal that will help readers achieve their sobriety goals, with prompts, reminders and encouragement alongside dedicated space in which to record intentions, plot the journey and celebrate achievements.

The Journal will be published in paperback with flaps at £12.99, while The Unexpected Joy of Being Single will be a £9.99 paperback.