Book Extract: Me Too By Katharine Light

I’m very excited to be welcoming Katharine Light to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Me Too.

Nearly forty, Anna has a successful career, a long-term relationship, and a carefully maintained sense of independence. But as time begins to run out, one question becomes impossible to ignore. What if she’s left it too late for the one thing she truly wants—a baby?

Divorced journalist Rob keeps his life free from complications. But when he runs into Anna at a friend’s wedding, he’s caught off guard. The girl he remembers is gone, replaced by a woman who is impossible to ignore.

When Anna makes him an offer, it’s one he can’t quite believe. No strings. No expectations. Just one simple arrangement.

It should be straightforward.

But the closer they become, the harder it is to stay detached. What begins as a practical plan deepens into something far more tender and much more dangerous.

If Anna allows herself to hope, she could lose not only her dream of motherhood, but the one man who has begun to feel like home.

Now Rob has a choice. Walk away…or risk everything for the woman he was not supposed to fall for.

Because some arrangements were never meant to stay temporary.

Katharine has kindly shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

*****beginning of extract*****

This book focuses on the story of Anna and Rob, teenage friends who meet again at the wedding of mutual friends Jess and Sam. This section is told from Anna’s point of view, during the reception. She’s there with her boyfriend Jon, although he’s chatting to other guests. Rob (a high profile journalist) has suggested a walk, away from the guests, after Anna (successful clothes designer) broke down when her five-year-old goddaughter gave her a hug. The yearning for a child of her own sometimes blindsides her….

*****

‘…What about you? Business good?’

‘That’s interesting?’ She moved away.

Rob followed in long, easy strides. ‘Sure it is. I have a colleague who is the very proud owner of one of your black jackets. She says it’s one of the best investments she’s ever made.’

‘Don’t joke.’

‘Scout’s honour.’

‘You were never a scout. Or a choir boy.’

‘That’s true.’ His elbow nudged hers, through two layers of fabric. ‘So, what was that about? Earlier? Your secret’s safe with me.’

‘Yeah, right.’

‘I am other things than a journalist.’

‘Such as?’

‘I can be whatever you want me to be.’

Anna let out a laugh which turned into a snort. ‘This actually works, does it? As…as a line?’

‘You’re here, with me, aren’t you?’ He unleashed his dazzling smile again.

‘For a start, I’m not with you…’

He spread his hands. ‘I’m being nice. You could give me less of a hard time.’

‘You think I’m giving you a hard time?’ She blinked at him. ‘And you, a hard-bitten journalist?’

‘Boy, do you have an attitude problem,’ he said, but then he stopped, turned towards her and smiled, hands in his pockets.

She shook her head. ‘No smiling.’

‘No smiling? Are you serious?’

‘Anyway, wouldn’t Sam’s daughter be more your age range?’ Anna said.

Rob took out another cigarette and lit it. ‘I’ll think twice about offering a woman a handkerchief next time.’

‘Nobody asked you.’ Anna felt painted into the role of petulant adolescent.

‘No. Nobody asked me. But I didn’t see lover boy rushing to your aid.’

‘Lover boy?’ It was so incongruous. She laughed, in spite of herself.

‘Jonathan? Jon? Whatever.’ He turned away to look across the gardens. ‘So, what’s that about?’

‘No, really. Don’t feel you need to spare my feelings by not asking me any personal questions.’

‘It’s what I do.’ He took a long drag on his cigarette. ‘Ask questions.’

‘I have to keep walking.’ She folded her arms around herself.

‘Fair enough.’ He fell into step beside her as they walked past the ornate Victorian building. ‘Did you know Winston Churchill stayed here in 1905? He was Liberal MP for Oldham, and then North West Manchester. Before he switched to Conservative. Guess where he went next?’

‘Where? How do you know this stuff?’

He grinned. ‘It’s only fun if you guess.’

She pursed her lips. ‘Kent? Essex?’

‘He ended up in Essex, but before that he represented Dundee.’

‘Scotland?’

‘Yup.’ He stubbed out his cigarette in the bin as they passed under the roofed gateway to Lake Avenue.

‘What?’ she said, feeling his eyes on her as they quickened their pace.

He shrugged and took off his jacket.

‘What are you doing?’ she said, as he draped it round her shoulders.

‘Don’t fret. It’s only a jacket, not a commitment,’ he said.

‘You don’t have to.’

‘I know that.’

If all she ever knew about someone, was what she’d read in the press, would that give her any sort of rounded picture of what they were like as a person? Couldn’t she remember Rob as a lanky, likeable teenager, before he filled out so impressively? Did that mean he could only be defined by his one-dimensional media reputation now?

Would there ever be a point at which his observable behaviour—what he actually did— could oust the tabloid persona? She felt as if she needed time to think about this. ‘I’m seeing a whole other side of you.’

‘I’m sure my secret’s safe with you,’ he said.

*****end of extract*****

About Katharine Light  –

Katharine Light was born in Glasgow and lived there until her family moved to Manchester when she was ten. While in her teens, she began writing stories for her younger sister Emma. These mostly centred around a naïve heroine and a 1980s pop star (some would say the hero was modelled on John Taylor of Duran Duran).

She did a degree in psychology at University College London, and after a year travelling, worked in corporate film production for several years, before taking a break to raise her children.

For many years she wrote mainly during the holidays, around her busy work for a local church.

Her first novel Like Me, published in 2023, was shortlisted for The Selfies Book Awards 2024. Her short story My arms are emptywhich is based on an episode from her second novel Me Too recently won the City University competition City Writes.

She is a director of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, with responsibility for organising their conferences, gatherings and awards ceremonies.

Katharine lives in London with her husband and quite often at least one of their adult children. She loves singing, walking, painting, looking at art, and going to the theatre.

Connect with Katharine on Instagram, Threads and Facebook. 

Buy Me Too on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.