Win flowers for you and a friend
To celebrate the launch of Sara Cox’s new novel The Truth of Us. A story about the friends we choose – and the ones we can’t escape.
Enter the giveaway
And you could win a year of flowers for yourself and a bunch for the friend who’s been by your side since day dot. The competition closes on 30 August 2026. Winners are chosen at random, and if you’ve won you’ll hear from us by 6 September 2026. Good luck!
Friends are the family you choose
Manchester, 1982. The houses on the street are almost identical but number 51 has always been slightly neater, a shiny penny next to number 49. The people inside have their differences too but still their lives are entwined, most especially for young girls Abi and Christy. From questionable fashion choices, illicit nights out and doomed romances, growing up together they share everything. Including the secret that eventually tears them apart.
Two decades later, Abi's life is one of marriage, family and stability. Christy, always the wilder of the two, has travelled and partied and risen high in the world of TV. Until, unexpectedly, they're living next door to each other again. Is it finally time to confront the past and speak the truth?
The Truth of Us showcases Sara Cox's superb storytelling skills in an unforgettable story that spans generations but always stays truthful to the strong, funny and complex women at its heart.
About Sara Cox
Sara Cox is known and loved by millions of BBC Radio 2 listeners, where she presents her teatime show every weekday from 4-7 p.m. She developed a passion for broadcasting at BBC Radio 1 and presented the Breakfast Show for four years, reaching eight million listeners.
Her memoir Till the Cows Come Home (2018) and her novels Thrown (2022) and Way Back (2023) were all instant Sunday Times bestsellers.
Sara lives with her family in north London. She stays in tune with her farming background by having too many pets and riding her horse, Nelly.
We ask Sara the big questions…
Sara: Lots of it. I really enjoyed getting my mini revenge on club bouncers who’d ogle you as you waited to get in, drunk on their own power over whether to let you in or not. It was great to return to Ibiza, the bars, the clubs, the clientele at cool restaurants. Lots of those scenes were also inspired by real trips working abroad, living in apartments in New York, Milan and South Korea with fellow young models. I often get Abi and Christy in the same dress but one white, one black – my best mate and I did that a lot in the late 90s.
Sara: Oh, that’s a GREAT question. There are two points – after a heartbreaking moment between the girls in a restaurant that goes horribly wrong and quickly spirals out of control, I wish they’d bought each other flowers and kissed and made up. Also, after the funeral, Christy could’ve offered an olive branch in the shape of some beautiful blooms, along with a letter maybe. I think Hannah maybe deserved flowers a few times from Christy after she caused chaos at various family celebrations.
Sara: Yes! It’s great to acknowledge just how much our female friends mean to us – though I think true friendship doesn’t need grand gestures. A nice little bunch of flowers, meeting up for a walk, a night away, a funny facetime. My female friends all know I love and cherish them; they are without a doubt one of the things that make my world turn.
…and the little (but important) questions too.
Flowers.
Snoop Dogg ‘What’s My Name?’
Friends should be radiators, not drains – thanks Megan.
Hahaha a bit of both. Though her hair and beautiful eyes I nicked from Anna.
Clare. To celebrate her new gazebo.
Peony – popular, constantly blooming and evolving, stunning, classy, and smells nice haha.
I used to be a night owl like Christy, now I’m an early bird like Abi.
I was OBSESSED with Shakespeare’s Sister’s ‘Stay’ – I played my CD single to death. I loved the video too. When it drops ‘You’d better hope and pray’... Epic.
Queen Clare. Special mention to Five Go French (named after our trips to France) Megan, Els, Emily and Anna. They’d all drop everything for me and I would for them.
Call.
Oooooooh! London.
Hilarious.
Changes all the time, at the moment it’s Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke.
