I’ve just read Sarah Shaffi’s piece on the best books to read this May, and what stood out was how many of the recommended novels are built around women under pressure: women keeping up appearances, making questionable choices, trying to hold themselves together, and doing it all with humour, bite and emotional honesty.
That’s exactly the territory of Lisa Doyle is Absolutely Fine, the new novel by Mo Fanning, publishing on 18 June 2026 via Spring Street Books.
The pitch in one line: a woman fakes an engagement after four glasses of wine, not giving any sane thought to how her invented fiancé shares a name with her very married boss.
Set in Manchester, it sits alongside Mhairi McFarlane’s Cover Story and Beth O’Leary’s The Flatshare as a sharp, grown-up romantic comedy about social pressure and the exhausting performance of being “fine.”
Mo is an award-winning author – his novel Husbands won the 2025 IndieReader Discovery Award – and Lisa Doyle represents his move into the mainstream romcom space, a genre dominated by Big Five publishers.
It’s the antidote to dark romance and romantasy – a witty, character-driven romcom for readers who want smart emotional comedy without fantasy elements. The “grown-up romcom” label distinguishes it from younger-skewing trends and targets the 28-50 reader who feels under-served by the current market.
Mo is available for interview, and I can send a review copy immediately. I’ve attached the press release and can provide cover artwork and author photos.
Would Lisa Doyle be a good fit for any further summer reading coverage?
Best,
Adrian Bedford
ABC Book Marketing
Tel: 07881 925376