Picador Killjoy How a small voice made a big change.

by Jo Cheetham

Fearne Cotton's Happy Place Book Club Pick

'Fiercely funny, truly fascinating and inspiring . . . I was hooked from the first page.' - Mel Giedroyc
'Warm, wise, witty and wet your pants hilarious' - Laura Bates, author of Everyday Sexism

Jo Cheetham was a long way from home, studying and working as a nanny in London, when she saw news of an upcoming protest against the Page 3 pictorial in The Sun and decided to go along. Before she could talk herself out of it, Jo officially joined the No More Page 3 campaign team.

Over the course of the next three years, Jo protested up and down the country, attended parliament and made an unlikely group of friends, ranging from sixteen to sixty, that would become her closest confidants and allies. Whether it was through an impromptu flash mob or a nerve-wracking group performance on the West End stage, Jo's world started to get a lot bigger.

Hilarious, brilliantly warm and moving, Killjoy is a story of everyday people doing extraordinary things, the power of a grassroots campaign and ultimately what you can achieve when you shout a little bit louder.

'Funny and inspiring' - Rachel Cooke, The Guardian, 'Non-fiction to look out for in 2023'

'Snappily written with humour and irreverence, it unpeels the insanity of our patriarchal society and why it can and must change. Order it now, is our advice.' - Stylist, 'Non-fiction books you can’t miss in 2023'

'A heroic and humorous account of the woman who found herself at the head of the No More Page 3 campaign, in a group of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.' - Independent, '19 debut authors set to make their mark this year'

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

400 pages, Paperback

Published February 15, 2024

Reviews

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! So much not a killjoy of a book, filled as it is with fun and joy despite the fight they are having. Couldn't stop reading it, and was sad when it was finished. Whilst I knew of the campaign, the book added important detail and made it all so personal. Gives such an important message in a funny and poingnent way which still does not diminish the power of the message. A book everyone should read, women for the support it gives and men to help them understand how seemingly small things can have such massive impact. Just great, can't think of any other way to describe it.

[Cate · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up.

I loved nearly all of this book. Really interesting account of the "No more page 3" campaign, the women behind it, and the fights and set backs they struggled through. Only negatives are some of the chatty and tedious conversations between the campaigners which go on a bit, and there isn't as much detail about the later campaign works and achievements compared to the earlier ones.

[ALM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admired the No More Page 3 campaign massively at the time. To read how a small group of women achieved this (and endured unrelenting grief for it in the process) makes me even more proud of their achievement.

[Holly Mcshane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down! Read it in 2 days, brilliant and felt like I was with them protesting and campaigning!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this read. Women working together against the curmedgenarian patriarchy.

[Jenny Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting & thought provoking read.

[Annabel Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed and I cried, women are just fucking incredible

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read about a worthwhile fight, and win!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing!