Starting Over to Two Roads

Two Roads, an imprint of John Murray Press, has acquired Starting Over: How looking at things afresh can make you healthier, calmer and happier than ever by Helen Russell, author of The Year of Living Danishly.

Russell has spent the last few years "uncovering the secrets of Danish happiness" from her home in rural Jutland. Back in the UK, her book explores "having to start over again", from building a new working life and rekindling friendships and relationships, to trying to revamp her health and body. Building on studies that show we are the "best version of ourselves" when starting new things, the book investigates the theories behind this to maintain those feelings after the honeymoon is over to uncover "the practical life lessons we can all use".

Kate Hewson, senior editor at Two Roads, bought world rights from Anna Power at Johnson & Alcock.

Russell said: "I'm delighted to be joining the Two Roads stable, writing about a subject close to my heart and taking up a series of life experiments in the name of 'work' - so that other people don't have to."

Hewson said: "I’m thrilled to be working with Helen again on such a fresh, international idea. Every January we’re bombarded by media telling us how to change our lives and be a new, better version of ourselves. But Helen cuts through the hype and figures out what works, what doesn’t, and how we can all get a fresh start, wherever we are in life."

Two Roads will publish Starting Over in hardback in December 2016, priced £12.99