A visually stunning and beautifully written debut graphic novel of love, life and art

AN IRISH TIMES FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022 A GUARDIAN BEST COMIC AND GRAPHIC NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2022 A TELEGRAPH BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2022 'Alison absorbed, delighted and moved me with its quiet truthfulness' Helen Garner 'A genius graphic novel (but lots of words) about a young woman from Dorset who leaves her life to be with a much older famous artist in London. It's also brilliant on relationships, creativity and friendship (and the art world)' India Knight 'Every now and again a book comes along that is such a bright joy, so true, so beautiful and moving. Alison is one of those books. I loved it' Jessie Burton, author of The Miniaturist 'Alison is Posy Simmonds meets Edward Bawden - and really, what higher praise could there be?' Observer 'Subtle and deliciously complicated, this is a big book on big subjects, but lightly, elegantly done. I loved it' Tessa Hadley, author of Free Love Alison is newly married, barely twenty and struggling to find her place in the world. A chance encounter with an older artist upturns her life and she forsakes convention and her working-class Dorset roots for the thrumming art scene of London in the late seventies. As the thrill of bohemian romance leads inevitably to disappointment, Alison begins to find her own path - through art, friendship and love. 'This book is a testament to the right to choose your own life' Jessica Andrews, author of Saltwater 'A delicious portrait of 80s and 90s London and a more universal tale of a working-class young woman making a life in a world that has not been designed for the likes of her. For all its effortlessness [...] Alison ends up carrying a great emotional heft. It's a lovely book, and I cried at the end.' Guardian

"A delicious portrait of 80s and 90s London and a more universal tale of a working-class young woman making a life in a world that has not been designed for the likes of her. For all its effortlessness [...] Alison ends up carrying a great emotional heft. It's a lovely book, and I cried at the end" - Guardian

"Her compassionate depictions of women alone, women together, will undoubtedly find welcoming audiences" - Shelf Awareness

"Her every page looks exquisite, which is entirely fitting, given that this is a book about an artist. Alison is Posy Simmonds meets Edward Bawden - and really, what higher praise could there be?" - Observer

"Lizzy's work is beautifully executed with an eye for composition, colour and fine detail" - It's Nice That

"A captivating new graphic novel that could have been dreamt up by Edna O'Brien and Judith Kerr of The Tiger Who Came To Tea fame, had they ever collaborated." - The Gloss Ireland

"Beautiful ... A coming-of-age tale with stunning artwork that will resonate with women everywhere" - Red

"Alison's various relationships, which are few but complex, are beautifully drawn - both figuratively and literally - especially a friendship she strikes up with a female sculptor. And the author skilfully manages to tease out all the nuances of a life in a tale that, despite being as old as the hills, manages to feel fresh and relevant" - the Crack

"Stewart does a wonderful job" - Buzz Mag

"A highlight ... subtle and sympathetic" - Daily Telegraph

"Stewart's artwork is sensuous, lush and gorgeously textured. The best-looking book of the year" - Herald

"Praise for It's Not What You Thought It Would Be: 'This brilliant debut collection explores the intensity of teenage ennui and female friendship, with a deft feel for its slights and tensions" - Guardian

"Mournful, lovely ... Stewart's dynamic, warm, flowing art invites the reader in" - The New York Times