Love and Parrots: An uplifting novel about the courage to be seen

UNSEEN. UNCAGED. UNFOLDING.Two women. One friendship. The year that set them free.Neena and Julie, 52-year-old mums, have been best friends since their Catholic schooldays growing up in rural Australia.Neena thinks she's got her life sorted, happily married to Sean with two teenagers, Luke and Maddie. Then she finds out 14-year-old Luke is cutting himself. He tells her he's trans and desperate to go on hormone blockers.Neena's determined to support Luke, but Sean thinks he's way too young to be making big decisions like that.Julie's shrunk herself small to fly under the radar of her controlling husband Greg. To her surprise, she finds herself falling for a woman, Nicky. She breaks things off before they've even begun - but not before her adult son, David, sees their parting kiss.When David outs his mum to his dad all hell breaks loose. But can Julie escape Greg and her lifelong pattern of self-betrayal?Warm, compassionate and deeply human, this novel explores the many colours of love, second chances and what happens when we start living our truth."I read it in one day - yes one day! - because I was hooked and I was captivated." - Jamie Fiore Higgins, best-selling author of Bully Market""A complex, deeply human story filled with heartbreaking moments and happy and enlightening moments masterfully interwoven." - Lucy Ochoa-Petit"I love this book so much! It's deeply real and imbued with emotion." - Alice Pace, transfem sensitivity reader"As the parent of a transgender child, I found so much of Neena's story resonated with me. Many of the same worries, questions and challenges and also the profound joys and love that shaped our journey. I wish I had this book when I first learned that my child was struggling with gender dysphoria. It would have answered so many of my questions, given me invaluable information and helped me understand how l could support my child, myself and my family. It would have made so much difference in those early, uncertain days.' - Claire Johnson"Bravo! Beautifully and sensitively written. Krysteen's power of description is razor-sharp and lingering. Love and Parrots is beautiful, intriguing, and deeply relevant to our modern world." - Michelle Vassallo, author of Stand Your Ground"This is a great story and it's really relevant for our times." - Nat Newman, author of The Office of Dead Letters"I was deeply touched by it and in tears most of the time." - Juanita van Wyk Read more