Optimists Die First

Ever since tragedy struck her family, Petula has learned to see danger everywhere – whether it’s crossing the road or eating a poached egg. Petula’s determined not to let her guard down, even if this means allowing herself to be ruled by anxiety and grief, and losing her best friend.

Then Jacob walks into her therapy group. Strikingly tall and confident, he’s survived a different kind of disaster and still come out smiling. At first Petula is repelled by his optimism, yet even she can’t deny their chemistry together.

But optimism is blind – and so is love. What will happen if Petula gives in to both?


Susin Nielsen has produced a richly comic story featuring a cast of mismatched, engaging characters -- Marilyn Brocklehurst ― Guardian, The Best New Children's Books supplement

Entertaining but also poignant -- Claire Hennessy ― Irish Times

One of the most talented teen writers working today ― BookTrust

Grief and guilt permeate Nielsen’s empathic and deeply moving story, balanced by sharply funny narration and dialogue. ― Publishers Weekly, starred review

Nielsen writes with sensitivity, empathy, and humour ― Kirkus, starred review

The novel’s greatest strength is its handling of the characters’ very real burdens with sympathy, wit, and not an ounce of melodrama. Nielsen excels at depicting troubled, clever teenagers ― Starred review, School Library Journal

Optimists Die First is both funny and heartbreaking. Fans of Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor And Park will love it. ― Red Magazine Online

Nielsen has such a gift for creating authentic teenagers... Infused with offbeat humour, this is a book with a great voice and a big, big heart -- Fiona Noble ― The Bookseller

A contemporary story written with compassion, empathy and wit ― Best New Children's Books Guide, produced by the Publishers' Association and published in the Guardian 2018

Readers will be gripped by Petula’s story and the way she tells it; Nielsen gives her a totally authentic teen voice, loaded with cynicism, sarcasm, humour and flashes of hope. -- Andrea Reece ― Lovereading