The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus - A Novel

A spellbinding debut about friendship, motherhood, first love, and the choices that bind us. . . I couldn't put it down! Carley Fortune, #1 New York Times bestselling author of This Summer Will Be Different

A witty, atmospheric, and brilliantly told novel that offers compelling portraits of womanhood, motherhood and female friendship, along with the irresistible intrigue surrounding an extraordinary British family

Arriving at the University of Edinburgh for her first term, Pen knows her divorced parents back in Canada are hiding something from her. She believes she ll find the answer here in Scotland, where an old friend of her father s now a famous writer known as Lord Lennox lives. When she is invited to spend the weekend at Lord Lennox s centuries-old estate with his enveloping, fascinating family, Pen begins to unravel her parents secret, just as she s falling in love for the first time . . .

As Pen experiences the sharp shock of adulthood, she comes t o rely on herself for the first time in her life. A rich and rewarding novel of campus life, of sexual awakening, and ultimately, of the many ways women can become mothers in this world, The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus asks to what extent we need to look back in order to move forward.

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Praise for The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus:

Undeniably delicious . . . . A tantalizing yet quietly touching debut about inheritance, emerging sexuality and what it truly means to come into one s own.
The New York Times

A witty novel about navigating independence and complicated relationships.
People

An amazingly accomplished debut.
Oprah Daily

The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus is a spellbinding debut about friendship, motherhood, first love, and the choices that bind us. Emma Knight whisks us away to Scotland, where Penelope Winters navigates her first year at Edinburgh University while untangling a family mystery. I couldn't put it down!
Carley Fortune, #1 New York Times bestselling author of This Summer Will Be Different and Meet Me at the Lake

Brimming with heart, The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus is a story about parents and children, friends and lovers, and that moment when a young person must strike out o n her own to claim the life she most wants. Emma Knight swept me off my feet.
Jenny Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of Pineapple Street

Whip smart, unrestrainedly fun, and bursting with heart. . . A novel about finding ourselves, falling in love, and meeting that precious group of friends whom we call family. . . Joyous, clever, and wholly transportive.
Katy Hays, New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters

Charm on every page. . . enthralling. Academia, friendship, young love, and family secrets, this is as smart as it is delicious, as nostalgic as it feels fresh. . . Knight is a blazing new literary talent.
Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The Push

Knight s gorgeously intimate, cleverly insightful wordsmithing will certainly impress and entertain.
Booklist

Memorable characters, witty moments, Scottish settings... Emma Knight s debut novel has it all. . . . A powerful tale about love, life , choices and friendship.
Woman's World

Wonderfully crafted, Emma Knight's story of friendship, family secrets and first love made me nostalgic about the act of reading itself. Mystery, intrigue, posh Scots and academia, it's a book to lose yourself in. Pro tip: carry it around the house, like I did, for maximum snatched read-time. A beautifully written, page-turning delight!
Fran Littlewood, New York Times bestselling author of Amazing Grace Adams

Sally Rooney fans, take note! Emma Knight's witty, wistful debut will keep you up all night, pondering the mystery and romance at its core, and rooting for Knight's irresistible heroine. I loved it.
Joanna Rakoff, international bestselling author of My Salinger Year

Addictive, nostalgic and comforting, this layered family mystery crept round my heart like a modern-day Dodie Smith.
Claire Daverley, international bestselling author of Talking at Night