Self-Contained

A raw, hilarious and beguiling honest memoir, Self-Contained explores the unpartnered life as never before, joyfully celebrating individuality in a world built for two.

Emma is in her 40s; she is neither married, nor partnered, with child or planning to be. In her brilliant new memoir, she asks why the world only views a woman as complete when she is no longer a single figure and addresses what it means to be alone when everyone else isn't.

Self-Contained: Scenes from A Single Life captures what it is to be single in your forties, from sharing a twin room with someone you've never met on a group holiday (because the couples have all the doubles with ensuite) to coming to the realisation that maybe your singleness isn't a temporary arrangement, and that maybe you aren't "pre-married" at all.

What happens if you don't meet the right person, don't settle down with the wrong person – and realise your biggest commitment is to yourself?

Self-Contained is published by Octopus.