Jacqueline Wilson revisits the Girls series in new adult novel with Transworld

Transworld has clinched Jacqueline Wilson’s Think Again, an adult novel which revisits the characters of Wilson’s Girls series. 

Former Bantam publisher Frankie Gray acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Caroline Walsh at David Higham Associates. Deputy publishing director Thorne Ryan will take over publication with Think Again publishing as Bantam’s lead debut in September 2024. The Girls novels will be reissued by their original publisher,  Penguin Random House.

"As Jacqueline knows only too well, life can take you on the most amazing journey and in Think Again Ellie both fulfils past dreams and finds new ambitions to guide her into the future", Walsh said.

The synopsis reads: "Being an adult isn’t quite what Ellie Allard dreamed it would be when she was 14 years old. Though she’s got her beautiful daughter Lottie, life-long best friends Magda and Nadine and her trusty cat Stella, her love life is non-existent and she feels like she’s been living on auto-pilot, just grateful to be able to afford the rent on her pokey little flat. But this year, on her birthday, the universe seems to decide it’s time for all that to change – whether Ellie wants it to or not. As she navigates new, exciting and often choppy waters, she’s about to discover that life will never stop surprising you – if only you let it." 

"I’ve reread the Girls series many times over the years, so it is such a joy to rejoin Ellie, Magda and Nadine as they navigate the highs and lows of adulthood," said Ryan. "Through them, Jacqueline explores themes such as expectation versus reality, self-discovery, and the need to push yourself beyond your comfort zone to achieve fulfilment. She brings to the book everything we all loved about these gorgeous characters, whilst showing readers how they have changed and developed over the years." 

Wilson said: "I’ve always wondered whatever happened to Ellie, Magda and Nadine, the teenagers in my Girls series. I’ve decided to find out what they’re up to nowadays. It’s been great fun writing for adults for a change. I think everyone reading Think Again will be surprised."