The Importance of Being Delia by Meredith Jaffe

Pleasing other people is hell. Pleasing herself is a revolution.

The gorgeous, cosy new family drama from the bestselling author of The Dressmakers of Yarrandarrah Prison

A loathsome feline. A family mystery. And a woman who’s done playing nice.

For more than thirty years, Delia Watson has been the woman behind the man. The silent engine driving her husband Charlie’s glittering music career, the backbone of a thriving dental practice and the woman who could always be relied upon by friends and family alike. Now retired, she’s ready to embrace life as a lady of leisure.

But the universe has other plans.

Against her better judgment, Delia is guilt-tripped into cat-sitting the ghastly Igor in Pretty Point, the harbourside suburb where Charlie grew up. Just as Delia’s resigned to making the best of things – again – a letter arrives for her husband, from a cryptic stranger.

Charlie claims he’s never heard of this woman but Delia knows him better than anyone – and he’s lying.

Finally, Delia’s had enough. Aided and abetted by the ladies from the bridge club, she’s determined to solve the mystery.

But her quarry proves elusive, the cat goes missing, her husband’s furious and her mother-in-law is threatening to call the police. Beneath the superficial charms of Pretty Point lurks a sordid story of betrayal, greed, and ambition … and the dead have stories to tell.

Praise for Meredith Jaffe:

‘An author with evident skill in writing realistic characters, place and dialogue. Jaffe has an ear and eye for each of these aspects’ The Australian

‘Meredith Jaffe is a joy to read‘ Joanna Nell

About the Author: Meredith Jaffe is the author of four novels for adults – The Tricky Art of Forgiveness, The Dressmakers of Yarrandarrah Prison, The Making of Christina and The Fence. Her bestselling novel, The Dressmakers of Yarrandarrah Prison, was voted in the 2021 Booktopia Favourite Australian Book Award Top 50 and the 2022 Better Reading Top 100. She also writes for children.

She regularly facilitates at other writers’ festivals and author events. Previously, she wrote the weekly literary column for the online women’s magazine The Hoopla. Her feature articles, reviews, and opinion pieces have also appeared in The Guardian Australia, The Huffington Post, and Mamamia.

30 Jun 2026
 

The Importance of Being Delia: A charming story of friendship, secrets and resilience, for readers of Sophie Green, Joanna Nell and Liane Moriarty by Meredith Jaffe ISBN 9781460762592