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The Cactus

Sarah Haywood (Goodreads Author)

3.62 · Rating details · 47,807 ratings · 3,938 reviews

Even the prickliest cactus has its flower. For Susan Green, messy emotions don't fit into the equation of her perfectly ordered life. She has a flat that is ideal for one, a job that suits her passion for logic, and an "interpersonal arrangement" that provides cultural and other, more intimate, benefits. But suddenly confronted with the loss of her mother and the news that ...more

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Paperback, 369 pages

Published October 9th 2018 by Two Roads (first published January 25th 2018)

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· 47,807 ratings · 3,938 reviews

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Jun 27, 2019 Emily rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

Oh boy. I would have DNF’d this, but at a point it became personal and I wanted to be able to make a fully formed opinion of the book. The main character was not “prickly” or “quirky”; she was rude, condescending, often downright cruel. The backstory we got in the end in no way excused her behavior. The love interest made no sense. I hated the trope of “rejecting help, friendship and literally any kindness makes you strong and independent and this is what a true feminist is.”- no, it makes you i ...more

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Jun 13, 2020 Richard rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: current-lit-uk, audio-book

The audio version of The Cactus by Sarah Haywood has accompanied me on a number of my (socially distanced) lockdown walks. This seems quite fitting as Susan Green, the central figure of this novel, lives a largely socially distanced life.
Susan is in her mid forties, lives alone and is perfectly content living her well ordered life in her well ordered flat, dependent on no one.
She has a man friend that she finds convenient for rare social occasions, cultural events and ..... er ...... more intim The audio version of The Cactus by Sarah Haywood has accompanied me on a number of my (socially distanced) lockdown walks. This seems quite fitting as Susan Green, the central figure of this novel, lives a largely socially distanced life.
Susan is in her mid forties, lives alone and is perfectly content living her well ordered life in her well ordered flat, dependent on no one.
She has a man friend that she finds convenient for rare social occasions, cultural events and ..... er ...... more intimate duties.
In Susan’s world she has complete control and has no time for the human frailties of those around her, she certainly doesn’t suffer fools gladly. The laws of efficiency and logic rule supreme.
She is also sharp tongued, stern and prickly, as the the name of the novel, not so subtly, suggests.
Susan’s calm, somewhat sterile life is suddenly shaken to its core. First a bereavement and then a personal situation that she never, ever expected to find herself in!
As life changing events start to crowd in on Susan’s well organised life, her resolve begins to fray.
She is thrust into the paths of ordinary humans with all their faults and weaknesses, causing great irritation …… but as the book progresses and she gets tangled in complicated, messy, real life situations, the everyday kindness and good nature of those around her begin to melt the ice.
We all know characters like Susan, those that find human interaction difficult and build a protective wall around themselves - so as a character she felt real. However, I found that living inside Susan’s head and seeing the world through her eyes for the duration of a novel was quite wearing at times.
There’s a lot of humour in The Cactus, some of it a little obvious, some, genuinely amusing, although more ‘smile’ than ‘laugh out loud’. The situations and outcomes also seemed a bit predictable. I soon began to see this as just a solid 3 star read.
As the book moved on though, I began to find myself becoming more attached to Susan and more drawn into her radically changing world.
I was really impressed with Katherine Manners the narrator. The book is set in the Midlands and her ‘brummy’ accent is wonderful and familiar (my mother was from Birmingham)
Overall I enjoyed this audiobook and would recommend it. ...more

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Apr 23, 2018 Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018-books, review-book

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
4.5 stars
The Cactus is a book that comes with such a visually stunning cover, it is filled with flourishing cactus plants, set against a shimmering metallic background and I will admit that it won me over instantly. I also adore the cover tagline that adds further embellishment to this already spectacular cover. The Cactus is comes with the cover quote “It’s never too late to bloom”. Self acceptance and life changes at a mature age are the central themes tha *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
4.5 stars
The Cactus is a book that comes with such a visually stunning cover, it is filled with flourishing cactus plants, set against a shimmering metallic background and I will admit that it won me over instantly. I also adore the cover tagline that adds further embellishment to this already spectacular cover. The Cactus is comes with the cover quote “It’s never too late to bloom”. Self acceptance and life changes at a mature age are the central themes that dominate The Cactus, the debut novel from Sarah Haywood. I tend to shy away from book comparisons, but this is a novel that echoes the work of the great Graeme Simsion of The Rosie Project (he endorsed the front cover). The Cactus also reminded me somewhat of another debut I loved last year, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. But, The Cactus is a novel that easily makes its own mark and it will worm its way into your heart.

The apt title of the book refers to the lead, Susan Green’s love for cactus plants, which she keeps in her work office. It could also be seen as a metaphor for the bristly nature of the heroine of the story. Susan Green is the peculiar protagonist who sits at the helm of The Cactus. When the novel opens, Susan is forty five years old, she is a fiercely independent woman, who is set in her ways. With a functional London flat, a long standing career and a relationship that has strict ground rules, Susan’s carefully ordered life is just as she wants it. Until one day, her world comes tumbling down. The death of her mother follows the news that Susan is also in the family way. The Cactus follows Susan as she grapples with getting her head around the prospect that she is to become a mother, which introduces her to whole new set of testing experiences. Life for Susan Green suddenly becomes very complicated.

It was an immense pleasure to be introduced to the writing of debut novelist Sarah Haywood. The Cactus is a novel that I can easily attest to enjoying from cover to cover. Much of my adoration for this novel comes from the lead, Susan Green. I will make it clear that some will not warm to Susan straight away, or not at all. Her spiky, feminist, forthright and often odd nature may get under the skin of some readers, but for me, I loved her from the start. Some reviewers have remarked on their inability to connect to such a cutting character, but persisting with Susan really does pay off. I enjoyed the metamorphosis of Susan very much.

I liked the mystery that surrounded Susan, which hits you smack bang in the face in the first pages of the novel. I liked how Susan was represented by Haywood as a puzzle or enigma. My money was on some kind of trauma from an accident (I was somewhat close in my estimations) and then I gravitated towards Susan sitting on the autism spectrum. Either way, I enjoyed the chance to get to know Susan. As the book progresses we learn more about Susan’s childhood and life as a young adult through the flashbacks that were included in this novel, as well as her interactions with the delightful characters in this novel. It becomes apparent that Susan is a very quirky woman set in her ways, but at times, her reasoning did make sense and even seemed rational. I admired her for sticking to the routines that made her feel safe. All the same, it was thrilling to see her break free from her restrictions and live in the moment in the latter stages of the book.

Supporting Susan is a fine cast of individuals who are all fully fleshed out characters. Protagonists such as Susan’s brother Edward, memories of her mother and father, aunt Sylvia, her twin cousins, neighbour Kate, friend with benefits Richard, university pal Brigid and finally Rob are all so full of life they burst out from the pages of this novel. As the book is solely narrated by Susan in first person, we get an excellent feel for these characters in the eyes of Susan. Her observations of the people in her life are sharp, nuanced and even a crack up at times! The Cactus is a book that I would definitely say is a character dominated novel. The narrative, which mainly revolves around the battle for Susan’s mother’s inheritance and Susan’s impending motherhood, shapes itself around the character set of this delightful novel.

In terms of themes, The Cactus works well to draw our attention to a number of issues. Within the novel, Haywood examines memories, upbringing, sibling rivalry, alcoholism, serious illness, grief, lost love, inheritance disputes, marital problems, single parenthood, adoption and mature age pregnancy. Each of these themes are coloured in perfectly by Haywood. I appreciated the lens in which Haywood puts on these topics, through the unusual guise of Susan Green, the lead.

On the whole I loved this novel, very much. There was only one small drawback. The book beats slowly. It took me much longer than usual to get through The Cactus but I did seem to savour every word. However, as a fast reader, this aspect of the book perplexed me! Despite my reservation about the slow pace, I took great joy in being a part of Susan’s rise. It really was a touching experience to watch her grow into her own and embrace all facets of her life. The final message I took from this book is that it is never too late to bloom, do not let life pass you by!

The Cactus is a simply wonderful debut. Sarah Haywood definitely has a new fan!

*I wish to thank Hachette Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes. ...more

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Jan 18, 2019 Ali rated it liked it

Ah well, somewhere between 2.5 and 3 stars.
And please, please, never ever spell "bin" instead of "been", it does not add any quirkiness to the speech, it just looks stupid.

I have to say this book did not live up to my expectations. From the blurb I expected some quirky, humorous, emotional story, very cleverly written, but it turned out to be pretty average on the enjoyment scale.

Susan is 45. She lives alone and lives her life whichever way suits her best. She is smart, in full of control of her ...more

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Jun 13, 2019 Jaye Berry rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, contemporary, 2019, audiobook

Hours of my life I will never get back.

The Cactus is about a prickly woman named Susan who lives her life by the order she's created. When her mother dies, she ends up in an inheritance battle with her brother and also ends up getting closer to Rob, her brother's friend. If that wasn't enough, Susan finds herself pregnant and surprising everyone and even herself, she is keeping it.

While I hate (lol no) to drag a book down by lifting another, I will. Let me introduce you to my friend Eleanor Olip Hours of my life I will never get back.

The Cactus is about a prickly woman named Susan who lives her life by the order she's created. When her mother dies, she ends up in an inheritance battle with her brother and also ends up getting closer to Rob, her brother's friend. If that wasn't enough, Susan finds herself pregnant and surprising everyone and even herself, she is keeping it.

While I hate (lol no) to drag a book down by lifting another, I will. Let me introduce you to my friend Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. Eleanor Oliphant is a complex and also messed up character. She is mentally ill which isn't an excuse for being mean but it helps to understand her. When she is rude or standoffish, it stems from how clueless she is at normal situations and when learning and becoming closer to people, she opens up and takes steps to becoming a better version of herself. Eleanor is a character that is while at first unlikable, is still likable and you (or at least I did) felt sorry for the hand life dealt her.

This book, this MC? Yeah... no. Susan is just a rude and socially inept woman. Sure, she isn't a supervillain who intends to be the way she is but I never liked her, at all. Her main goal in this book is to screw her brother over just because she doesn't like him and doesn't agree with her mother's will. Susan doesn't even WANT the house he was given, she just wants to make a point. Her bullshit excuse that she wants the money for her baby? Weak.

Susan is not a nice person and every interaction she had with people was terrible to read. She has no excuse or reason to be the way she is, she just happens to be mean and salty. This book tries to add depth to her and give a reason but nope, still so weak. Even when Susan is helping someone out, her POV is just how awful doing anything for anyone else was all while judging everyone. Her personality was trash and Susan can straight up choke.

If that wasn't bad enough, this is just a story of a woman "warming up" because she's having a baby + a man. I guess I blacked out when they were falling in love because they went from texting friends to "I love you move in with me I'll help you raise your baby" WAY too fast. The idea of how having a baby and meeting a man is what "saves her" from her oh so sad and lonely life is super gross and kind of offensive. The majority of the book is still her being an asshole too. It takes WAY too long for any sort of character development, if you could call the little there was that.

This entire book tries to pull off the quirky / sad vibe of Eleanor Oliphant but it just turns out to be a crappy off-brand Doritos called something like ~Crazy Triangles~. If this book taught me anything it was to value and love Eleanor Oliphant even more than I did before. Read that book instead and skip this one, you're welcome. ...more

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Oct 17, 2019 Kelly (and the Book Boar) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: cartoony-covers-are-my-kryptonite, dysfunction-junction, liburrrrrry-book, mommy-issues, read-in-2019, romcom

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

After seeing a couple of low-ratings from my Goodreads’ friends I opted to put The Cactus on the backburner and made my request to the library when I was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay down the wait list – despite the fact that . . . . .

God am I a sucker for famous people telling me what to read.

I think the main issue people have with this book (and soooooooo many others that are using #ifyoulikedeleanoroliphant as their main selling feature) ...more

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Jun 22, 2019 Emily B rated it really liked it · review of another edition

From reading the first few chapters It was very easy to predict the rest of the plot of this novel. However I still really loved the ending.

I was over halfway into reading it before I whole heartily started to enjoy it and fully warm to the characters. In the end I finished this book smiling.

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May 25, 2018 mindful.librarian ☀️ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, adult-reads

🌵 🎧 Yay for great audiobooks with fabulous narrators with ACCENTS! British, in this case.
•
THE CACTUS was my latest listen and it was a great one 💗 I adore quirky characters and this one has that PLUS family drama PLUS love ~ highly recommend to fans of “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman and “Something Like Happy” by Eva Woods 😊 Both of those are excellent on audio as well, BTW!

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Nov 10, 2018 Ioanna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2018, favorites, owned-books

I really loved this one!😍

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Aug 25, 2019 Holly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019

3.5 stars rounded up.

I was a little disappointed by The Cactus and cannot really understand the comparisons with Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and Don Tillman from The Rosie Project. In fact, I think the comparisons are way off for the simple reason that Eleanor and Don were both likable from the start as well as funny. The protagonist in The Cactus is not someone I would want to get to know and that made it difficult for me to get through the book. Think of a person who is like a cactus. ...more

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Jun 13, 2019 Linaria rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary

How are people comparing The Cactus to my girl Eleanor Oliphant? Eleanor was heart-warming, but sad, and dealt with a woman who had suffered real trauma. The Cactus features a protagonist who is equally distant and curt but seems to have a whole less reason to be such a jerk to everyone around her. I have no idea how people are praising her relationship with Rob because they spend the first half of the book barely speaking, and when they do, it's to pass messages to or from her brother. Despite ...more

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Jul 07, 2019 Carol (Bookaria) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, 2019, fiction

An unconventional protagonist facing life-changing events. This was a quick and enjoyable read. The main character has a particular and structured personality which I could relate to (a bit) and which made me smile.

I first heard about this book when it was selected for RW's book club. In the past, she has chosen great titles for discussion and for this reason I gave it a try. The audiobook had a great narrator and the book has a beautiful cover.

It was lighthearted and funny, I recommend it to r ...more

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Feb 22, 2019 Ruthy lavin rated it it was amazing

Oh my word, this book is bloody brilliantl!!!!
It starts off a bit like Bridget Jones, and ends a bit like Four weddings - someone please adapt it into a film!!!
I didn’t think anything could top Eleanor Oliphant for me because I really, really loved that book and will definitely read it again someday - but this? It’s as good if not better.
Witty in that inimitable British way, with undertones of sadness and comedy, it’s just a literary triumph.
I’m always a reluctant 5 star rater, but this just co ...more

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Jun 13, 2019 Laura Rash rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Idk if this was supposed to be cute and quirky but it didn’t quite get it for me.

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Aug 08, 2019 Laura rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: humor, on-ipad2, on-dj2, 2019, library-request, overdrive, library, lib-has-audio, favorites, love-stories

This is an absolutely beautiful book. A real treat, from start to finish. Can't believe it's the author's first novel.

I have become a real fan of books that feature quirky main characters. Susan, the protagonist, is in her mid-40s. She is intelligent, strong-willed and independent. She enjoys her own company and doesn't really need friends or even close family relationships. Everything changes when something happens that will change her life forever. (It is described in the book description but ...more

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Jan 29, 2018 Anne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

So, let's talk about that cover. It's absolutely sublime, and I have to admit that as soon as I opened up the envelope when it dropped through my letterbox, I bumped this one to the very top of the 'to be read' pile. See, I'm a cover tart, I have to admit it. There is nothing more likely to get me interested in a book than a beautifully produced cover, and especially a hardback cover. I was truly besotted.

The contents of the book certainly do not disappoint either. Yes, we can certainly judge th So, let's talk about that cover. It's absolutely sublime, and I have to admit that as soon as I opened up the envelope when it dropped through my letterbox, I bumped this one to the very top of the 'to be read' pile. See, I'm a cover tart, I have to admit it. There is nothing more likely to get me interested in a book than a beautifully produced cover, and especially a hardback cover. I was truly besotted.

The contents of the book certainly do not disappoint either. Yes, we can certainly judge this book by its cover. It is just as beautiful on the inside as it is on the out; perfectly written and paced, with a lead character who will bring out every emotion and feeling for the reader.

The Cactus is the story of Susan Green. At first, she doesn't seem particularly likeable and to be honest, I'd hate to sit next to her in the office, but gradually and slowly, this very talented and gifted author brings her to life. The reader is allowed glimpses from Susan's childhood, and early adulthood and these make it very clear that Susan really is a product of her upbringing.

One early reviewer likened Susan to the offspring of Don from the Rosie Project and Bridget Jones, and that really is the perfect description. However, I like Susan much more than I like either of those characters, scarily enough I found myself identifying with some of her thoughts and behaviours; I think we all have our little quirks and Susan and I have quite a few in common.

At the heart of the story is the fact that single Susan is forty-five and pregnant with her first child. Her mother has recently died and Susan is outraged to find that, according to the will, her brother Edward has the right to stay in the family home until he chooses to move. Susan deals with both of these matters in her organised and military fashion. A baby is just a small person who won't take up much room at all, and once she's prepared her case for the Court, she's bound to get her half of the money immediately, isn't she? After all, Susan has gone through life so far in her own tenacious fashion so there's no reason that this won't work out perfectly for her.

What Susan doesn't consider is that huge changes that both pregnancy and bereavement will bring to her. Suddenly, she is experiencing emotions and feelings that are alien to her, and her journey to realisation about relationships is wondrous to experience.

Sarah Haywood has created one of the most wonderful characters that I've ever come across. She is perfectly formed, both interesting and irritating at times, but by the end of the story, I was totally and utterly in love with her.

The Cactus is a joyful, funny and very insightful story. Incredibly well written and wonderfully imagined. Effortlessly entertaining with captivating observations. This really was a joy to read.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo... ...more

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Oct 04, 2019 Julie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

I agree with others that this is a read alike to "Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman. Both are great reads. It was truly interesting to learn how each sibling viewed and experienced their parents differently and how it contributed to the antagonism between them. The following quotes are from a conversation as brother and sister argue over what type of funeral gathering they should have for their Mum:
Sister: "Mum was teetotal she would have been horrified to think her wake woul ...more

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Sep 20, 2019 Sonja Arlow rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019-read, bookclub-read, audio-books, favourite-audio, recommended

3.5 stars

The Cactus is such an aptly named title as it describes the narrator so well. A bit prickly, adapted to repel rather than attract but with a little patience you may just watch her bloom.

This is one of the few books that I can genuinely recommend for readers who also loved Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fineas the two books have the same vibe. But be warned, Susan is not immediately likable however she grew on me so much that I actually hope there will be a sequel.

Susan is 45, with a met ...more

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Dec 09, 2019 Lisa Wolf rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, family-drama, london, love-stories, siblings

3.5 stars. I usually round up on Goodreads, but this really doesn't feel like a 4-star read to me.

I borrowed the audiobook of The Cactus from my library on a whim, based on its being available and also being a Reese's Book Club pick (because I do seem to like most of their selections). This was an enjoyable, diverting story, although I'm not sure that I loved it. Susan is set in her ways, negating emotion at every turn, always aiming for efficiency and neatness. When her life turns upside down, ...more

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Dec 29, 2019 Antoinette rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I must admit I have an affinity for unusual characters. Susan Green is 45 years old and is a very straight laced, humourless woman. She is very organized, always early and tells it like it is. She comes off as an “ice queen”. But much is about to change in Susan’s life- will she be able to adjust and carry on?
I liked Susan despite her faults. On the cover of the book it states “ It’s Never Too Late To Bloom.” We follow Susan on her journey- I pretty well figured out where her journey would lead, ...more

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Dec 20, 2019 Monica (crazy_4_books) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 4-stars, reviews

(read for the #ohwhatfunreadathon hosted by Mackenzie Lane for the challenge: read the 25th book on your TBR. Note: I used my home-shelves TBR and number 25th hasn't arrived yet, so this one was the 24th)
This book is real good, but it's got quite hard-hitting topics. I'd say it gravitates towards "Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine" when it comes to character profile and dysfunctional families with a whole bunch of secrets. However, I didn't find Susan Green as likable as Eleanor Oliphant, and ...more

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Jun 10, 2019 Amy | Foxy Blogs rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: buddy-reads, hoopla, headphones, 2019-books, new-to-me-author-2019, hello-sunshine-book-club, june-2019

The Cactus didn't hit the spot for me. I picked this book up because it was Reese Witherspoon's June book club read and I had watched her IG stories about how funny this book is and how much she loved it.

My reaction wasn't quite the same. Unfortunately, I didn't find it funny. I suppose what one person finds funny another person doesn't. I had a hard time wrapping my head around a woman who was so unwilling to accept help because she's afraid it'll make her look weak.

Susan finds herself pregna ...more

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Jun 13, 2019 Laura Peden rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, kobo, reese-witherspoon-book-club

The Cactus by Sarah Haywood, narrated by Katherine Manners is the character study of a British woman named Susan. If you enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine you will most likely enjoy The Cactus. Susan is a no nonsense & well-mannered single 45 year old who finds herself pregnant and on her own. Which is what she prefers. At least she thinks she does. There’s family drama with hidden secrets, a light romance, laugh-out-loud situations and a journey of personal growth. This is exceptional ...more

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Apr 20, 2020 Lisa (Remarkablylisa) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Real Rating 4.5/5 stars. I really enjoyed this story about an older woman who suddenly becomes pregnant and also realizing she's been left out of her mother's will. From then on, she does a lot of investigative work to figure out the reasons why she doesn't get any inheritance even though she believes she was the one who took care of her mother the best. It's a feel good story. I took half a star off because the brother is stupid. ...more

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Dec 03, 2019 Sylvie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit

This was a good book, but it wasn't my cup of tea. ...more

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Nov 01, 2020 Lucy Jackson rated it liked it · review of another edition

I did enjoy 45 year old Susan Green's journey through this book the second half was much better than the first, her life becomes much more interesting as she deals with life's challenges.
What I didn't like was Susan herself I'm not really sure how to explain it, it wasn't because she was unlikeable that was essential to the story, I suppose it was the character development I just didn't engage with.
...more

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Nov 03, 2018 Julie Parks rated it really liked it

Shelves: general-fiction

This book in the definition of English humor. It should even come with a warning: Don't read it on a rainy morning!

I loved every chapter. But the character can get to be a bit too bitter at times. She's a new kind of lol.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review. ...more

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Jan 15, 2019 Sallie rated it really liked it

A thoroughly enjoyable read. Fans of Eleanor Olyphant and Ove will enjoy Susan Green. But there is more here to love than a retread of those books. Watch this character come alive and step out of her comfort zone. You will be rooting for her the whole way despite her prickly exterior.

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Jun 17, 2019 Myrna rated it liked it · review of another edition

Susan is a complex character and comes across as unlikable. As her life unravels though I rooted for her and a happy outcome. Sweet ending but couldn’t rate it higher.

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Oct 11, 2018 Tracy Fenton rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I’m on a mission to read as many books as possible with “quirky” characters and when Richard & Judy announced The Cactus as part of their Autumn Book Club choices it seemed perfect timing to start this book.

Firstly, I absolutely HATE it when books are compared to other books/characters etc and when the Sunday Times said “‘The Cactus will be compared to Gail Honeyman’s 2017 hit, the appealingly eccentric Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” I try to take it with a pinch of salt and read it with a ...more

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Reese's Book Club...: The Cactus by Sarah Haywood	7	974	Jul 09, 2019 03:46AM
Reese's Book Club...: Romance	10	461	Jul 07, 2019 02:33AM
Overbooked: July 2019 Book Club Pick	1	7	Jun 30, 2019 05:41PM
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About Sarah Haywood

Sarah Haywood

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Sarah Haywood was born in Birmingham. After studying Law, she worked in London and Birkenhead as a solicitor, in Toxteth as an advice worker, and in Manchester as an investigator of complaints about lawyers. She now lives in Liverpool with her husband and two sons.

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Quotes from The Cactus

“But, these days, fairy-tale endings come in all shapes and sizes. It’s okay for the princess to end up with the prince, it’s okay for her to end up with the footman, it’s okay for her to end up on her own. It’s also okay for her to end up with another princess, or with six cats, or to decide she wants to be a prince. None of those make her any more or less a feminist.” — 7 likes

“Dealing with members of the opposite sex isn’t that dissimilar from training a dog; you need to be firm and persistent.” — 6 likes

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