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Author: Ahmed, Safa

Reading age: from c 14 years (Young Adult)

Published on 6 June 2024 by Penguin Random House Children’s UK (Penguin Books Ltd) in the United Kingdom.

Paperback | 416 pages
198 x 128 x 27 | 290g

‘Effortlessly charming and deeply moving, The Girlfriend Act has so much heart and humour’ – Ann Liang, author of If You Could See The SunAspiring actress Farah Sheikh is tired of being in the background.

Ex-child star Zayan Amin needs a break from the spotlight.

And after a disastrous audition where she’s told she doesn’t ‘fit the aesthetic’ for her university’s play, Farah meets The Tragedies. A group of West London theatre kids rejected from the stage for similarly dubious reasons.

Together, Farah and The Tragedies find themselves in the limelight and get the chance to perform. But, there’s a catch. Recently disgraced child star, Zayan, will be involved.

The deal: Zayan regains popularity via the publicity of his new romance, and in exchange, he’ll star in (and more importantly, fund) a play for The Tragedies.

Can Farah uphold her side of the bargain, and prove her critics wrong?’A heartfelt celebration of the communities we are born into and the families we choose for ourselves. A stunning debut with an everlasting impact.’ – Ananya Devarajan, author of Kismat Connection