For 20 years Maggie and Will have spent idyllic summers in the south of France with their friends Lydia and Roland. This year though, tension is brewing and loyalties are being tested. Their young kids are all there too, and they might end up stumbling upon secrets that were being kept from them...

August’s Happy Place Book Club read is Family Friends. In this chat with Fearne, author Chloe Ashby explains why she wanted to explore relationship dynamics around the age of 40. Each character has brought a bit of extra baggage to this year’s holiday, so through them Chloe wonders at what point doing one bad thing makes you a bad person.

Plus, why was it controversial to include a teenage holiday romance?

Thank you to Penguin for the use of the Family Friends audiobook, narrated by Sally Scott.

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Book Club Meets: Candice Carty-Williams

Book Club Meets: Caro Claire Burke

Book Club Meets: Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you find yourself cringing at your younger self? Did you lose yourself in the early part of parenthood? Do you wonder if who you’re being is who you really are? It’s check, check, and check for comedian Joe Lycett.

In this chat with Fearne, Joe reflects on how much of his stage persona has become who he actually is, why paternity leave triggered a lot of existential crises all at once, and how he’s come out the other side caring a lot less about what anyone thinks.

Fearne and Joe also wonder if the art of losing your inhibitions is gone forever thanks to camera phones, and why playing around and making mistakes is so important as an adult.

Plus, how have Ant and Dec accidentally changed how Joe behaves at hotels? And, why is it you can always trust that you'll find community at the pub? Joe loves the human chaos of it, so he’s opening his own, but only for one hour a week...

The Lycett Arms airs live on Channel 4 on Friday nights at 10pm, starting Friday 4th September.

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Alain De Botton

Ant and Dec

Philippa Perry

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s been going on for you this week? What are you happy about, and what’s making you not so happy? Fearne’s here with more chat about what’s putting her, Team Happy Place team, and you lot in a good mood, and what’s feeling a bit heavier.

This is our space to explore what’s been on our minds. Want to join the chat? Send us a voicenote, DM, or comment on Instagram @happyplaceofficial!

In this chat, Fearne explores:

-Why the regular mates getaway is so vital

-Why – contrary to popular advice – it’s important to talk to strangers

-Sitting on a train without looking at your phone

-Just bloody wearing the outfit you think is too extra

-Coping with ill parents

-Trying not to get frustrated with older people taking things slow

-Young kids being obsessed with slime (???!)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.