Author: Laura BarnettModern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945)Published on 4 June 2026 by Transworld Publishers Ltd (Penguin (Transworld)) in the United Kingdom.Paperback | 368 pages196 x 129 x 26 | 258g SIX LIFELONG FRIENDS. ONE UNFORGETTABLE YEAR.From the author of the Sunday Times Number One Bestseller, The Versions of Us. ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral meets One Day...I couldn't put it down.’ 5-star reader reviewZoe, Al, Rachel, Rob, Yas and Indie. Six friends who were inseparable at university, who have all had their secret or not so secret passions for each other, their hopes and fears.Over the years, they have gone their separate ways. But when an engagement party throws the gang together once more, some passions are reignited, old connections and resentments resurface.Over the next twelve months, there will, among the friends, be a birth, a marriage, and a death – but whose?BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES is an era-spanning, globe-trotting novel about a group of friends growing older, the possibility of second chances, about kindness and joy. It’s about births, deaths, marriages... and everything in between.PRAISE for BIRTHS, DEATHS & MARRIAGES:‘I loved Births, Deaths and Marriages. Laura’s ability to jump between so many different lives and to keep those strands alive in the reader’s mind reminded me of Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors’ Georgina Moore''Wonderful...beautifully written, superbly characterized and so truthful' Elizabeth Buchan'A book to sink into... a nuanced, compelling and comforting read that reminds us about the power, support and importance of found family' Kate Sawyer'A compelling tale about love and friendship in all its guises. Her exquisite line by line writing and astute character observations held me rapt' Lucy ClarkeREADERS LOVE BIRTHS, DEATHS & MARRIAGES:'An emotional, heartfelt book about the joys and sorrows of life. It is about love in all its forms, the friendships that shape us, and the quiet moments that define who we become.''Relatable, funny, moving and hopeful. Births, Deaths and Marriages is a fantastic read that reminded me of Cold Feet and deals with the themes of feeling unsure in your life, grief and moving forward beautifully.'‘Wow! Just wow! A book for anyone who has loved, for anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one, for anyone who has contemplated or been married, for every parent, indeed, for anyone who has lived.’‘A hugely enjoyable novel which celebrates the durability of friendships that have weathered the storm of growing up.’'Reminiscent of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually, Notting Hill''Immersive and thought-provoking . . . captures the nuances of human relationships—the tension, the tenderness, the misunderstandings, and the unbreakable bonds that endure despite time and distance.''Highly addictive and incredibly comforting. Exquisite storytelling written in a way that gives you all the feels from incredible sadness to raucous laughter. These are a bunch of friends I won’t forget in a hurry!'
