A Million Things

‘Poignant, uplifting and beautifully written.’ * Catherine Jinks *
‘Direct, assured writing, hard-hitting emotion and a wonderful sense of optimism. A Million Things is a debut to treasure, with characters whose dignity shines through their struggles.’ * Jock Serong *
‘An original and impressively assured debut. A gem of a novel.’ * Graeme Simsion, bestselling author of the Rosie trilogy *
‘Beautifully written, equally heartwarming and heart-wrenching novel about family, friendship, love and resilience…An absorbing, wonderful read that showcases the importance of having even one special person to turn to and unconditional love. Keep the tissues close by.’ * Herald Sun *
‘An enthralling, devastating debut…A Million Things is a shattering novel that perfectly captures the fractured moments between loss and letting go; between childhood and growing up, in which anything could change once the pieces fall.’ * Readings *
‘Really good. There are moments in the book where your heart stops.’ * Newstalk ZB *
‘It is not hard to see why A Million Things was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award Unpublished Manuscript Prize last year. Spurr is a subtle writer, and though she writes genuinely dramatic incidents, the story is not overblown, and actions and reactions are written with a light touch…Spurr does a deft job of showing that people can surprise in good ways as well as bad.’ * Weekend Australian *
‘For book clubs who know honest friendship is the light in darkness.’ * Readings *
‘A powerful and challenging read from a new writer to watch.’ * Big Issue *
‘A remarkable book: beautifully written, tender, loving, humorous; heart-breaking, but all those other things as well—which is what we all love to read in the best of fiction.’ * RN Bookshelf *
‘Rae’s plucky perspective prevents the story from descending into pity-porn territory – despite the tragic backdrop – and there are moments in which the reader will laugh out loud. However, anyone who has experienced grief is likely to cry at least once before the covers close on this story.’ * ArtsHub *
‘Author Emily Spurr tells a tale of grief and resilience with refreshing simplicity.’ * Age/SMH *
‘Emily Spurr’s first novel is written with depth and heart and a plangent simplicity; her characters have a warmth and feisty resilience that she makes utterly believable, and the inevitable tricky ending is handled with confidence and flair.’ * Adelaide Advertiser *
‘[An] amazing debut.’ * Australian Women’s Weekly *
‘Spurr deftly slides into Rae’s 10-year-old consciousness, expertly balancing the innocence and maturity of a child grown up too soon.’ * Booklist *
‘Spurr delivers a haunting account of a young girl grappling with abandonment in this excellent debut…Through Rae’s devastating yet hopeful interior dialogue, Spurr delicately illustrates the complexity of loss and isolation.’ * Publishers Weekly *
‘In this excellent debut…Spurr delicately illustrates the complexity of loss and isolation. Fans of Liane Moriarty should take a look.’ * Publishers Weekly *
‘Stock up on Kleenex and prepare to feel all the feelings in this heartfelt story of resilience.’ * E Online *
‘My Tissues came out very readily!’ * Jan Goldsmith, 3CR: Published or Not *
‘An absolutely fantastic novel.’ * 2SER: Final Draft *
‘An intense, atmospheric work of fiction about love, grief and resilience.’ * BookBrowse *
‘A Million Things draws the reader into an intimate world of unforgettable characters and heartfelt expressions of love and grief. This is a great selection for book clubs who are looking for a… genuinely touching read.’ * BookBrowse *
‘A fantasy tale which imagines how a ten-year-old might deal with her mentally ill mother’s unthinkable, unavoidably present, departure. The narrative follows her attempts to structure a life, and her interactions with her problematic, if possibly recuperative, neighbour(s). Another exploration of the horrors and joys of family life and community.’ * 2022 Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award judge’s comments *
‘An absolute masterpiece of a novel…A Million Things is as close to a perfect novel as you will ever get. Emily Spurr has catapulted herself into my list of top authors.’ * Theresa Smith Writes *

Originally from Tasmania, Emily Spurr lives in Melbourne with her partner, their twins, and the ghost of a recently departed, deaf geriatric cat. Shortlisted for the prestigious Victorian Premier’s Unpublished Manuscript Prize, voted BookBrowse Best Debut Novel of 2021, longlisted for the 2022 Margaret and Collin Roderick Literary Award and Highly Commended for the 2022 Barbara Jefferis Award, A Million Things is Emily’s first novel.

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