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Louise O’Neill has announced her latest book – a memoir.
A Bigger Life is set for release next year, and is a personal exploration of “reinvention and discovery,” blending “humour, heartache, and sexual liberation.”
O’Neill is best known for writing fiction, and most notably for her bestselling novel Asking For It.
She announced her memoir on Instagram this week, detailing the reasons behind the book, and the advice her father gave her before writing it.
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She said: “At the start of last year, I sat down with my dad and I told him the truth—I felt stuck. My life at 38 looked nothing like the one I had envisioned for myself. I felt like I had failed in every possible way and I had no idea how to fix it. He listened to me, and then he said, ‘Louise. If you want a bigger life, you’re going to have to take bigger risks.’
“That’s what 2024 was for me. A year of big swings, of taking risks, of refusing to settle or make myself smaller. A year of prioritising fun and pleasure and adventure, and most importantly, finding myself again. I’m nearly 40 and I have never felt more confident or comfortable in my own skin. At a time when society tells us we become less viable, less visible, I have never felt more alive.
“I want every woman I know to experience this kind of freedom and I hope the memoir will help in some small way. And my god, the STORIES I have for you after the last twelve months… Let’s just say the research for this one was a lot of fun.
“A Bigger Life will be published by HQ in September 2026. I can’t wait to share this with you all x.”
HQ have described the book as “more than a memoir” and a “rallying cry for anyone – particularly women over 35 – who has felt constrained by traditional life markers.”
Well, it’s safe to say we are more than excited for this one.
