Hodder says 'I do' to YA star Birchall's wedding-themed adult novels

Hodder & Stoughton have pre-empted the rights to two adult women’s fiction novels from bestselling young adult author Katy Birchall.

Women’s fiction publisher Kimberley Atkins snapped up world English language rights, including audio, to The Undercover Bridesmaid and a second wedding-themed romantic comedy from Lauren Gardner at the Bell Lomax Moreton Agency. German rights have also sold at auction to Piper by Nicki Kennedy at ILA, on behalf of Gardner.

"A modern romantic comedy, The Undercover Bridesmaid is the story of Sophie, who is hired as a professional bridesmaid to help plan one of the biggest society weddings of the year – with hilarious results," reads the synopsis. 

Atkins said: "I am completely delighted to be publishing the brilliant The Undercover Bridesmaid at Hodder – this is an irresistible and smart romantic comedy with a great concept at its heart. Katy is an extraordinarily talented writer, who has come up with a truly original take on the perennially entertaining theme of ‘weddings’. I can’t wait to introduce her writing to an adult readership – this is one of the most exciting new voices I’ve read in years.”

Gardner added: “I am thrilled that Kim and the team at Hodder have fallen for Katy and The Undercover Bridesmaid, and I can’t wait for the rest of the world to meet Sophie Breeze in 2021!”

Birchall is the author of the successful young adult series The It Girl and Secrets of a Teenage Heiress, published by Egmont and translated into 11 different languages. Her most recent series Morgan Charmley: Teen Witch is published by Scholastic and Birchall is also the co-author of the middle-grade Lightning Girl series with Alesha Dixon.

She said: “I couldn't be happier that The Undercover Bridesmaid has found a home at Hodder. Kim's support and enthusiasm for this story has been overwhelmingly wonderful right from the start, and I feel immensely lucky and proud to be working with the fantastic Hodder team for this and my next novel. Writing romantic comedies is a dream come true and I hope readers will have as much fun reading them as I've had writing them.”