Jessica Adams - Girls’ Night In

GIRLS’ NIGHT IN

Edited by Jessica Adams, Chrissie Manby and Fiona Walker

Published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

1 London Bridge Street

London SE1 9GF

www.harpercollins.co.uk

First published in Great Britain by HarperCollins Publishers 2000

Compilation © 2000 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd For copyright details of individual stories, see here

Cover layout design © HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 2015

Cover illustration © Cherie Chapman

All characters and incidents in this publication are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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HarperCollins Publishers has made every reasonable effort to ensure that any picture content and written content in this ebook has been included or removed in accordance with the contractual and technological constraints in operation at the time of publication.

Source ISBN: 9780006514855

Ebook Edition © MAY ISBN: 9780008132972

Version: 2015-06-02

In and Out Copyright © 2000 Freya North

Dougie, Spoons and the Aquarium Solarium Copyright © 2000 Jenny Colgan

The Power of Two Copyright © 2000 Fiona Walker

The Truth is Out There Copyright © 1999 Marian Keyes

Rudy Copyright © 2000 Lisa Jewell

A Swimmer’s Tale Copyright © 2000 Stella Duffy

Post Haste Copyright © 2000 Isabel Wolff

Cassandra Copyright © 2000 Cathy Kelly

Access All Areas Copyright © 2000 Jane Owen

The E-Male of the Species Copyright © 2000 Wendy Holden

Love on the Underground Copyright © 2000 Jessica Adams

Fairweather Friend Copyright © 2000 Patricia Scanlan

Something Different Copyright © 2000 Clare Naylor

The Itch Copyright © 2000 Polly Samson

Morro Copyright © 2000 Alecia McKenzie

Flung Copyright © 2000 Adele Parks

Pull Me in the Pullman Carriage Copyright © 2000 Helen Lederer

The Plain Truth Copyright © 2000 Claire Calman

Mr Charisma Copyright © 2000 Yasmin Boland

The Sun, the Moon and the Stars Copyright © 2000 Pauline McLynn

The Shell of Venus Copyright © 2000 Victoria Routledge

Man with a Tan Copyright © 2000 Anna Maxted

Storm Clouds Copyright © 2000 Sheila O’Flanagan

Caravan Copyright © 2000 Rosalyn Chissick

The Seven Steps from Shag to Spouse Copyright © 2000 Tiffanie Darke

Lip Service Copyright © 2000 Karen Moline

Saving Amsterdam Copyright © 2000 Chrissie Manby

A Form of Release Copyright © 2000 Daisy Waugh

Hurrah for the Hols Copyright © 2000 Helen Simpson

No Worries Copyright © 2000 Sarah Ingham

Re: The World Copyright © 2000 Amy Jenkins

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction Neil Morrissey

In and Out Freya North

Dougie, Spoons and the Aquarium Solarium Jenny Colgan

The Power of Two Fiona Walker

The Truth is Out There Marian Keyes

Rudy Lisa Jewell

A Swimmer’s Tale Stella Duffy

Post Haste Isabel Wolff

Cassandra Cathy Kelly

Access All Areas Jane Owen

The E-Male of the Species Wendy Holden

Love on the Underground Jessica Adams

Fairweather Friend Patricia Scanlan

Something Different Clare Naylor

The Itch Polly Samson

Morro Alecia McKenzie

Flung Adele Parks

Pull Me in the Pullman Carriage Helen Lederer

The Plain Truth Claire Calman

Mr Charisma Yasmin Boland

The Sun, the Moon and the Stars Pauline McLynn

The Shell of Venus Victoria Routledge

Man with a Tan Anna Maxted

Storm Clouds Sheila O’Flanagan

Caravan Rosalyn Chissick

The Seven Steps from Shag to Spouse Tiffanie Darke

Lip Service Karen Moline

Saving Amsterdam Chrissie Manby

A Form of Release Daisy Waugh

Hurrah for the Hols Helen Simpson

No Worries Sarah Ingham

Re: The World Amy Jenkins

Acknowledgements

About the Publisher

It’s difficult to see what devastatingly handsome men, heart-breakingly wet tissues and the odd glass of Cava have in common with a school in Rwanda and a playground in Kosovo. But here, in this glorious book, you have it.

This book was the brainchild of writing friends Chrissie Manby, Jessica Adams and Fiona Walker. Meeting up for drinks one night, they talked about the host of young women whose unique brand of fiction currently top the book charts, and decided to bring all that talent together in one book for one terrific cause. Scribbling ideas on napkins, they were determined from the outset to create a book that raises spirits as well as funds. Within twenty-four hours, this unique collection was born.

The approaching deadline saw stories flying across the internet and writers who had previously been head to head in the book charts asking each other for advice. Of course, there were a few obligatory girls’ nights out to discuss narrative structure over a glass or two as well! With best-selling authors from the UK, Ireland, America and Australia donating their stories free of charge, the generosity and enthusiasm of all involved has been extraordinary.

One pound from every copy of Girls Night In goes towards War Child’s Safe Play Programme in the Balkans and an educational programme in Rwanda. In Kosovo, thousands of children have been left without anywhere to play, have fun, or have a normal childhood. In Rwanda most girls have no access to education. So thanks for buying this book – you’ve just helped these children, have a great night in on me.

Since it was founded in 1993, War Child has alleviated the suffering of tens of thousands of children throughout the World. Providing mobile bakeries and supplying insulin to stricken warzones, the charity directs aid where it’s needed most. But they do not disappear when the guns have stopped shooting and the fires have died down. They are also instrumental in healing the psychological damage caused to children by their experiences of war.

The money raised from this book will fund two essential projects: