Common Ground
A love letter to community and the power of activism, from the author of Ginger and Me and Graffiti Girls.
Germaine only accepted the job at the Kenmar allotments for a fresh start. Far from anyone who knows her history she can focus on work and tending to her own plot. Most of the other plot-holders keep to themselves and that suits her just fine.
But when the local council announces plans to turn the allotments into luxury housing, Germaine finds herself leading a battle to save the place that has become a sanctuary for fractured souls.
Amidst crumbling sheds and overgrown paths, the rag-tag band plan protests, forge alliances and uncover long-buried secrets. Soon they’ll learn that the allotments aren’t just plots of land but a place to belong.
Praise for Elissa Soave: -
'A delicious tale of female rebellion and a glorious tribute to female friendship. Warm, funny, and uplifting with genuine insight into women's lives. I adored every page' Caron McKinlay -
'A rebellious and uplifting tale of punkish, middle-aged, feminist defiance, told with wit, warmth and energy. I was rooting for Soave’s tenderly drawn characters on every page' Lucy Ribchester -
'Graffiti Girls is a sharply observed and thought-provoking cri de coeur about everyday sexism. It is the uplifting story of a group of women re-setting their lives and re-discovering their purpose during mid-life crises extraordinaire – a tale told with passion and verve' Catherine Simpson -
'A fiery, funny and fierce feminist read that packs an emotional punch, Graffiti Girls explores big themes with empathy, insight and grace. I miss spending time with these characters' Emma Styles -
'Stingingly observed, expertly executed, Graffiti Girls is a laugh-out-loud, relatably painful, feminist rage-induced tour de force' Claire Wilson -
'Graffiti Girls drips with feminine rage, a story for any woman of a certain age who’s ever felt invisible.' My Weekly, Books to Read in 2025 -
‘Vivid, funny, sad, thought-provoking, acutely observed and full of compassion’ Helen Sedgwick -
‘A debut novel to treasure, by turns funny, dark and heartbreaking and I didn’t want it to end!’ Louise Mumford -
‘A fascinating and poignant take on friendship and obsession’ Caron McKinlay -
‘Startling, sly and full of suspense. Not your ordinary coming of age novel’ Catherine Mayer -
‘Full of charm, insight and wit – with the power to break your heart’ C. E. Riley -