Go Lightly

A funny and tender story of friendship, family and messy love - and how getting it wrong is sometimes the only way to get it right.

Ada is a typical Aussie in London in her mid-twenties. Impulsive and free-thinking, she prides herself on her independence and street smarts. A happenstance hook-up with Sadie, a playwright at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, results in Sadie moving into Ada's flat - and bed. Simultaneously, Ada enters into an undefined, mostly online situationship with Stuart, a struggling artist from Liverpool.

Navigating the choppy waters of the various complicated relationships in her life, Ada will learn that her footloose approach to love and sex may make for a great story at the pub, but might not make her truly happy. Across Edinburgh, Liverpool, London and even Florida, Ada confronts the complexities of that dreaded phenomenon all too well-known: the quarter-life crisis.

Incisively funny, Go Lightly is a tribute to both the freedom and freefall of your twenties, and to the growing pains of self-discovery.

Review

Sharp and funny and humane . . . Brydie skewers everyone equally, but always with empathy, warmth and wit -- Monica Heisey, author of REALLY GOOD, ACTUALLY

A truly fabulous book . . . It's so well written, and so smart, and tender and silly and made me laugh out loud. -- Ella Risbridger, author of MIDNIGHT CHICKEN (& OTHER RECIPES WORTH LIVING FOR)

Go Lightly is brimming with wit and wisdom. This novel is an ode to love in all its forms; sexual, platonic, familial, and above all self-love -- P.J. Ellis, author of LOVE AND OTHER SCAMS

Narrative style that captures twentysomething chaos. A sharp wit.often very funny ― The Times

Packed with lovable characters, mouth-watering food and just the right amount of chaos, Go Lightly has everything I look for in a funny, romantic novel -- Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of MAKE YOU MINE THIS CHRISTMAS

Chaotic, unabashedly passionate and extremely funny. I inhaled it! -- Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of MAKE YOU MINE THIS CHRISTMAS

Ada is a unique heroine, and she'll stay with me for a long time. It's vivid, raw and hopeful - a novel that really nails the chaos, panic and joy of being young and trying to find your way in love and in life -- Daisy Buchanan, author of INSATIABLE

'Funny, perceptive and effortlessly engaging . I loved this novel' -- Lily Lindon, author of DOUBLE BOOKED

With the humour of Really Good, Actually and the painful relatability of Normal People, this is a modern, heartfelt and tender exploration of messy love, family and the community you find when you're far from home ― Bookseller

I had high expectations for this book and Lee-Kennedy left them for dust. As funny as it is warm, and with more heart than I've found in a novel for some time, I had to stop underlining standout lines after less than a chapter as my pencil was running out. An utter triumph' -- Nadine Cohen, author of EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING

Told with humour and tenderness . Go Lightly is a heartfelt book about love, friendship and identity ― Good Reading Magazine

Brydie Lee-Kennedy's debut, Go Lightly, is an honest, hilarious and often painful exploration of taking risks in life and love. Full of wry humour, it dives into the complexities of relationships - romantic, family, and friendship - and the different versions of ourselves we present to others. will appeal to fans of Sally Rooney, Dolly Alderton and Naoise Dolan ― Books + Publishing

Blending humour with pathos and critical social observation, Go Lightly is sharp, witty and...astute, establishing its author as a new and assured voice in modern LGBTQ+ literature ― The Herald

This one's for the bisexual Gen Z girlies with a serious case of main character syndrome. If you're looking to increase your repertoire of books about LGBTQIA+ characters, add this to your Pride reading list ― PedestrianTV

Brydie Lee-Kennedy proves not all love stories are fairy tales in her whip-smart debut Go Lightly. It's about Ada, an Aussie in London who falls for two people, Sadie and Stuart, simultaneously ― Sunday Life

About the Author

Brydie Lee-Kennedy is an Australian TV writer. She has written on shows for Netflix, Apple TV and Disney. In a former life she was a cabaret performer, kid's party entertainer and sex columnist.