Femme Feral : OBSERVER DEBUT NOVELIST OF THE YEAR 2026

A messy, witty and relatable fem-gore debut fantasy about a woman believing she's experiencing perimenopause, but soon discovers she is actually turning into a werewolf. An Observer Best New Novelist 2026

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EVER FELT READY TO HOWL?

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Hyper-competent start up CFO Ellie is 46-year-old and like most women, is already juggling too much. Daughter’s not talking to her, husband’s not listening to her, and she's got a promotion coming up at work. It's an inconvenient time to be beset by mid-life symptoms: coarse hair in new places, hot flushes, insomnia, losing time . . . finding bloodstains on all her clothing, howling at the moon.

Her doctor diagnoses perimenopause. But it's another 28-day cycle that's taking hold. One involving fur, and teeth, and a not insignificant amount of rage.

Suddenly the troubles in her life - hot flushes, thankless family, spiralling to-do list, oblivious husband, the w*nker promoted above her at work – seem almost . . . bite-size.

A deeply gratifying, highly addictive and provocative read, Femme Feral is an exhilarating expression of feminine rage, with a warning: If you swallow your anger, it’s sure to come back with a bite.

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- Femme Feral was an Observer Best New Novelist 2026 and a GoodReads Most Anticipated Novel 2026

- Readers say the book 'blends social commentary with dark humour and full blown feral rage' and is 'definitely one to pick up if you love female rage and werewolves!'

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‘Savage, witty, gory, heartfelt, utterly relatable rage fantasy and a helluva good time' Lauren Beukes, The Shining Girls

'A modern feminist classic' Sunday Times Style

‘A cathartic, necessary read’ Catriona Silvey, Meet Me in Another Life

Author: Sam Beckbessinger

Horror & ghost stories, Fantasy

Published on 9 Apr 2026 by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC.