The Spa

Ten women indulge themselves—and divulge their secrets—in this witty novel. In the lull between Christmas and New Year's, ten high-achieving ladies are gathered at the expensive Castle Spa in Cumbria, England, seeking to rejuvenate themselves with Botox, aromatherapy, and all-around pampering.

They lounge around in the Jacuzzi, sipping champagne and telling each other the stories of their lives—from a trophy wife's spell in a Greek prison to a brain surgeon's experience with twins and mistaken identity to a stepmother's reverse-Cinderella story.

From a Booker Prize nominee whose work has been acclaimed for extraordinary wit and insight, The Spa is a darkly funny sketch of a group of women who, despite facing prejudice, imprisonment, domestic catastrophes, and romantic debacles, have risen to the top of their respective worlds.