Aspiring actor Lizzy is struggling to come to terms with the death of her mother two years previously. Despite being in her late 20s, she still lives with her bohemian father and alternative therapist brother at their unconventional home in north London. The stasis of the family’s grief is shattered when Lizzy discovers the existence of a half-sister, Eunice, the product of her father’s affair two decades before. In an act that could be interpreted as either compassionate or self-destructive, Lizzy invites Eunice into their lives, unprepared for the emotional havoc and disruption she will bring.

As a study of grief, sibling rivalry and the damaging effects of a cuckoo in the nest, Look at Me has moments of perception and insight. While the novel doesn’t quite deliver the dramatic denouement the story seems to promise, this is nonetheless an assured and sensitively written debut.

Look at Me is published by Headline (£12.99). Click here to order a copy for £10.39