Hilarious, dark, and thoroughly entertaining, Getting a Life proves Helen Simpson to be one of the finest observers of women on the edge. Set in and around contemporary London, these nine stories explore both the blisses and irritations of domestic life.
An ambitious teenager vows never to settle for any of the adult lives she sees around her. Two old friends get tipsy at a small cafe and end up revealing more than they intended. In a boutique so exclusive that entrance requires a password, a frazzled careerwoman explores the anesthetizing effect of highly impractical clothing. And...

A debut collection of short stories, some of which have appeared in Soho Square, Storia 1 and Best Short Stories 1988. The stories are mainly concerned with contemporary metropolitan life, ranging across subjects such as relationships, marriage, sex and independence.