ALL GROWN UP
Neveah is leading a double life. At home, she’s a 15-year-old schoolgirl, but when she’s a digital marketing freelancer, she’s an independent woman of 22.
Having an affair with a married man was never part of her plan, but now she’ll do just about anything to stop her two worlds from colliding.
What compels young girls into sex way before they’re ready? And if a man has sex with an underage girl who lies about her age, does that mean he’s still guilty?
All Grown Up takes a sharp look at the true nature of consent in the murky minefield of contemporary sex.
The original title was Jailbait.
How it started
I saw Neveah, my central character, on a bus. A striking mixed-race girl of about fifteen in school uniform, the contrast between her and the other schoolkids around her was stark.
She had such presence and dignity, and I found myself thinking about her long after my stop. This is the story I imagined for her.
Is this a book you would like to read?
Meet the characters
Neveah
Fifteen years old, still at school, but ambitious, with big dreams.
She meets Giles while moonlighting as a freelance digital marketing entrepreneur. She tells him she’s 22.
She didn’t plan on having an affair with him.
She’ll do anything to stop him finding out her true age.
Now, she’s lying to everyone, all the time.
Giles
Giles is a 50 year old architect, besotted with Neveah.
He’s also married with a very troubled home life.
His affair with Neveah is not his first.
He wants it to be his last.
Marie
Marie is Neveah’s mother.
She works nights in a club and leaves Neveah to get on with things.
She’s single and hates it. It’s bleak out there…
So she secretly takes an ex back. One who is ex for a good reason.
How can she break it to Neveah?
Christine
Giles’s wife, a victim of a violent rape so traumatic that she has been unable to bring herself to have sex with Giles since it happened, seven years ago.
But Christine feels herself getting stronger, and is ready to get her marriage back on track.
She knows nothing about Neveah.
Serena
Daughter of Giles and Christine. She’s fifteen and dating Billy, aged 21.
She’s so into him.
They plan to have first time sex at a party.
What could go wrong?
Jackie
Neveah’s dad. He has another daughter, Cha-cha, Neveah’s younger half-sister.
He’s kind-hearted, and will do anything to avoid a confrontation.
A musician, lead singer in a band, he loves seeing his girls.
Just as long as it doesn’t interfere with his music.