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Sophie, Standing There
Sophie Pattison is a lovely person – warm, kind, relentlessly positive. She's cherished by her brother Laurie, adored by her best friend Emma and valued by her colleagues. Sometimes, it's true, one day in her life can feel like the entire month of January. It's also true she can go an entire day without speaking. But she's fine really. She spends her time alone reading, finding comfort in the pages of the books she devours.
Until one day she stumbles upon an author she hasn't read in years. Her books, interviews and podcasts soon become a lifeline; every word is a solace, company she hasn't felt in so long. It's almost like love.
A lot like love. And Sophie would love to meet the author, although she never will obviously. In a way, thank goodness, because that would change everything. Sophie's entire life. Wouldn't it?
Hilariously candid and raw, Sophie, Standing There is a bittersweet story of love, loneliness and finding connection in the most unlikely of places.
Until one day she stumbles upon an author she hasn't read in years. Her books, interviews and podcasts soon become a lifeline; every word is a solace, company she hasn't felt in so long. It's almost like love.
A lot like love. And Sophie would love to meet the author, although she never will obviously. In a way, thank goodness, because that would change everything. Sophie's entire life. Wouldn't it?
Hilariously candid and raw, Sophie, Standing There is a bittersweet story of love, loneliness and finding connection in the most unlikely of places.
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2026
About the author
Meg Mason
6 books2,401 followersMeg Mason is the author of Sorrow and Bliss, which became an international bestseller after it was first published in Australia. Winner of the British Book Industry Book of the Year, and shortlisted for the Women’s Prize, it has since been translated into more than 30 languages. Her first career was in journalism, beginning at The Times of London, later writing for Vogue, ELLE, GQ, Sunday Style and The New Yorker’s Daily Shouts.
Born in New Zealand, she lives in Sydney with her husband and two daughters.
Her third novel, Sophie, Standing There, will be published worldwide in 2026.
Born in New Zealand, she lives in Sydney with her husband and two daughters.
Her third novel, Sophie, Standing There, will be published worldwide in 2026.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Meg Mason really knows how to get inside the heads of women having very particular kinds of breakdowns. I'm not sure I've ever read a book about a parasocial relationship with a celebrity (well, author, in this case), which is surprising because I'm sure it's more common than the average person thinks.
Really, this is a book of two halves. The first half follows Sophie as she spirals, consumed by a grief that is in one instant devastating and the next sedating. The only thing that gets her through is revisiting the work of an author she has read before but is only now finding a deeper meaning in. The words feel different this time; they speak to Sophie in this moment of her life and offer comfort like nothing else can.
I think this really speaks to how having someone articulate what you are going through is so extremely powerful and important. At first, these books and this author are a lifesaver for Sophie, but it eventually becomes a dependency that Sophie cannot extricate herself from. She is so far inside her own head that she is living a separate reality.
The second half I won't spoil as I enjoyed being surprised by the directions it took. I will just say that Sophie's job is working at a local book festival and all her sadness and self-sabotage come to a head in the aftermath of that.
Mason has this fantastic way of writing intimate details that add richness to her characters and stories. Here, the story of the IKEA chairs, and the celebratory pizza which turns sour at thoughts of Paul. These elements brought Sophie to life and gave me so much sympathy for her.
It's been a few years since I read Sorrow and Bliss, but this is the great character work I remember. Sophie, Standing There is sad, moving, and occasionally funny, and it is also a wonderful celebration of many female authors (it is quite an amusing coincidence that I am reading this at the same time as Olive Kitteridge).
I will read whatever the author writes next.
Really, this is a book of two halves. The first half follows Sophie as she spirals, consumed by a grief that is in one instant devastating and the next sedating. The only thing that gets her through is revisiting the work of an author she has read before but is only now finding a deeper meaning in. The words feel different this time; they speak to Sophie in this moment of her life and offer comfort like nothing else can.
I think this really speaks to how having someone articulate what you are going through is so extremely powerful and important. At first, these books and this author are a lifesaver for Sophie, but it eventually becomes a dependency that Sophie cannot extricate herself from. She is so far inside her own head that she is living a separate reality.
The second half I won't spoil as I enjoyed being surprised by the directions it took. I will just say that Sophie's job is working at a local book festival and all her sadness and self-sabotage come to a head in the aftermath of that.
Mason has this fantastic way of writing intimate details that add richness to her characters and stories. Here, the story of the IKEA chairs, and the celebratory pizza which turns sour at thoughts of Paul. These elements brought Sophie to life and gave me so much sympathy for her.
It's been a few years since I read Sorrow and Bliss, but this is the great character work I remember. Sophie, Standing There is sad, moving, and occasionally funny, and it is also a wonderful celebration of many female authors (it is quite an amusing coincidence that I am reading this at the same time as Olive Kitteridge).
I will read whatever the author writes next.
Review of advance copy
if ann patchett likes it, i'll love it.
or okay, maybe just like it.
(thanks to libro.fm for the alc)
(review to come)
or okay, maybe just like it.
(thanks to libro.fm for the alc)
(review to come)
October 13, 2026
I adored Meg Mason's Sorrow and Bliss for its painfully accurate portrayal of depression. So, naturally, I was eager to read Sophie, Standing There. This time, Mason explores loneliness, the awkwardness of feeling different, and how easily isolation can drive us to retreat into our own heads. Sometimes that's a pretty crowded place to be!
When we meet Sophie, her life is unraveling. She's estranged from her best friend, Emma, newly divorced, and beginning to pull away from her brother, with whom she's always been close. Her mental health is deteriorating, and even her job organizing author events is in jeopardy. Sophie is becoming increasingly isolated, and unfortunately, she's not particularly good at getting out of her own way.
One aspect I especially enjoyed was Mason's inclusion of real-life authors in the story. What a clever touch! She also explores the peculiar relationship between authors and their most devoted readers. You know the type, readers who love an author's work so much that they convince themselves they actually know the person behind the books. Mason examines that fragile line between admiration and obsession, and how easily it can become blurred.
When an author Sophie idolized in her younger years is scheduled for an event, she's positively enchanted by the prospect of meeting her. As the story unfolds, we also learn about Sophie's upbringing, which helps explain some of her social awkwardness and difficulty connecting with others.
What I particularly appreciate about Mason's writing is her ability to inject subtle, sometimes wonderfully dry humor into what could otherwise be a rather maudlin story. She understands that sadness and humor aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, sometimes the saddest people have the sharpest wit. That balance kept me invested in Sophie, even when I wanted to give her a good shake!
And fear not, this isn't a story that leaves its protagonist wallowing in despair. Sophie eventually gains some perspective, and what initially feels like a story headed toward tragedy finds a softer landing, with the possibility of reconnecting with the people who love her.
I could relate to Sophie, particularly her tendency to live inside her own head and the comfort she finds in books. Mason captures something very real about the female experience, the struggle to fit in, the loneliness that can exist even when we're surrounded by people, and the complicated ways we sometimes sabotage the very relationships we need.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Katherine Parkinson. I'll admit, it took me a while to settle into this one, but I'm glad I persevered. Mason's characters aren't always easy to love, but they're wonderfully human.
I remain a Meg Mason superfan!
Don't worry, Meg. I have absolutely no plans to stalk you. I promise.
When we meet Sophie, her life is unraveling. She's estranged from her best friend, Emma, newly divorced, and beginning to pull away from her brother, with whom she's always been close. Her mental health is deteriorating, and even her job organizing author events is in jeopardy. Sophie is becoming increasingly isolated, and unfortunately, she's not particularly good at getting out of her own way.
One aspect I especially enjoyed was Mason's inclusion of real-life authors in the story. What a clever touch! She also explores the peculiar relationship between authors and their most devoted readers. You know the type, readers who love an author's work so much that they convince themselves they actually know the person behind the books. Mason examines that fragile line between admiration and obsession, and how easily it can become blurred.
When an author Sophie idolized in her younger years is scheduled for an event, she's positively enchanted by the prospect of meeting her. As the story unfolds, we also learn about Sophie's upbringing, which helps explain some of her social awkwardness and difficulty connecting with others.
What I particularly appreciate about Mason's writing is her ability to inject subtle, sometimes wonderfully dry humor into what could otherwise be a rather maudlin story. She understands that sadness and humor aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, sometimes the saddest people have the sharpest wit. That balance kept me invested in Sophie, even when I wanted to give her a good shake!
And fear not, this isn't a story that leaves its protagonist wallowing in despair. Sophie eventually gains some perspective, and what initially feels like a story headed toward tragedy finds a softer landing, with the possibility of reconnecting with the people who love her.
I could relate to Sophie, particularly her tendency to live inside her own head and the comfort she finds in books. Mason captures something very real about the female experience, the struggle to fit in, the loneliness that can exist even when we're surrounded by people, and the complicated ways we sometimes sabotage the very relationships we need.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Katherine Parkinson. I'll admit, it took me a while to settle into this one, but I'm glad I persevered. Mason's characters aren't always easy to love, but they're wonderfully human.
I remain a Meg Mason superfan!
Don't worry, Meg. I have absolutely no plans to stalk you. I promise.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I admit that a novel about a sad, insecure woman may not sound especially appealing, but I loved it. Mason is brilliant at getting inside her characters’ heads, and getting to know Sophie felt remarkably intimate. I also loved that this is such a bookish novel - one about literature and what it means to Sophie. She grew on me more and more as I came to understand her, and I would happily read another book or two about her. I recommend listening to the audio as Katherine Parkinson’s narration was utterly mesmerizing.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the advance audio.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the advance audio.
October 8, 2026
This started off quite slow for me but I became I became quite invested in Sophie’s situation.
She is a 37 yr old audio tech at a venue that hosts many authors.
She is recently divorced.. Paul ditched her in an awful way, and she lives in a dilapidated flat (owned by Paul) after she had to move out of her marital home.
She is quite awkward, insecure, and lonely…
She becomes obsessed with a beautiful famous author who just happens to be coming to her work venue.
I will let you see it all play out.
She is a 37 yr old audio tech at a venue that hosts many authors.
She is recently divorced.. Paul ditched her in an awful way, and she lives in a dilapidated flat (owned by Paul) after she had to move out of her marital home.
She is quite awkward, insecure, and lonely…
She becomes obsessed with a beautiful famous author who just happens to be coming to her work venue.
I will let you see it all play out.
August 10, 2026
Mason’s writing style prevented me from liking this more. Confusing syntax and too many commas. Meant that the direction and meaning at the start of a sentence was often confused or changed by the end.
June 17, 2026
sorrow and bliss is a perfect novel; this is not. but it has a lot of heart and such deep wells of empathy and attentiveness to feeling. meg mason’s attention to the mundane details of life combined with her infinitely layered character work remains my favourite thing about her writing. and any novel that makes me cry as hard as this did gets (almost) five stars
September 13, 2026
I didn't love Sorrow and Bliss, Mason's break-through novel, as much as most readers seemed to. I liked it enough to make me want to read more by Mason.
Sophie, Standing There is such a great title. Sophie is a thirty-seven year old audio-tech, working behind the scenes at writers' festivals and other such events. She's recently separated, lives in a dingy apartment belonging to her soon-to-be ex-husband. She loves her job and is very good at it. Unlike all the other techs, she loves reading.
Out of nowhere, Sophie develops an all-consuming obsession with a female author. She reads all her books, listens to all the interviews etc. (Raise your hand if you ever became obsessed with an author, singer, actor, or even long-dead historical figures - surely I'm not the only one.)
And what do you know, the famous author, will be part of the writers' festival Sophie's working at.
In recent years, I have been favouring novels about unhinged, out-there women. Sophie is the opposite of all those characters. She's quiet, unassuming, un-demanding, generous, giving and not very self-assured. Sophie is a gentle soul, I just loved following her journey.
Katherine Parkinson's narration was absolutely top-notch, as you'd expect from such a talented actor. [Say NO to AI narrated books!]
Sophie, Standing There is such a great title. Sophie is a thirty-seven year old audio-tech, working behind the scenes at writers' festivals and other such events. She's recently separated, lives in a dingy apartment belonging to her soon-to-be ex-husband. She loves her job and is very good at it. Unlike all the other techs, she loves reading.
Out of nowhere, Sophie develops an all-consuming obsession with a female author. She reads all her books, listens to all the interviews etc. (Raise your hand if you ever became obsessed with an author, singer, actor, or even long-dead historical figures - surely I'm not the only one.)
And what do you know, the famous author, will be part of the writers' festival Sophie's working at.
In recent years, I have been favouring novels about unhinged, out-there women. Sophie is the opposite of all those characters. She's quiet, unassuming, un-demanding, generous, giving and not very self-assured. Sophie is a gentle soul, I just loved following her journey.
Katherine Parkinson's narration was absolutely top-notch, as you'd expect from such a talented actor. [Say NO to AI narrated books!]
October 9, 2026
Here on Goodreads, readers seem split in their opinions about "Sophie, Standing There." I genuinely enjoyed it.
The novel features an insecure 37 year old woman named Sophie. When the story opens, she is newly divorced and living in a shabby apartment that is owned by her ex. Sophie is feeling miserable about the divorce. She still enjoys her job as an audio tech, working with the mics of authors who come to do book talks. She is close to her brother Laurie; Their childhood had been unusual.
Sophie loves to read. In her misery, Sophie stumbles upon an author whose books seem to speak to exactly how she is feeling. Sophie quickly develops an obsessive attachment to the author, which is unhealthy. And of course as the plot unravels, the author becomes scheduled to speak at the literary festival that Sophie will work at. That is the set-up of the book.
*********************************
My Reactions:
I couldn't help but like Sophie. Although she is achingly insecure, Sophie is a kind woman. I liked how Mason depicted her as well as the other key characters. I squirmed as Sophie fell deeper into her unhealthy attachment.
The portrait of the author was fascinating and kept me guessing. The unlikely friendship she established with Sophie was interesting to think about as it progressed.
I also liked the subtle flashes of humor in the book.
The novel features an insecure 37 year old woman named Sophie. When the story opens, she is newly divorced and living in a shabby apartment that is owned by her ex. Sophie is feeling miserable about the divorce. She still enjoys her job as an audio tech, working with the mics of authors who come to do book talks. She is close to her brother Laurie; Their childhood had been unusual.
Sophie loves to read. In her misery, Sophie stumbles upon an author whose books seem to speak to exactly how she is feeling. Sophie quickly develops an obsessive attachment to the author, which is unhealthy. And of course as the plot unravels, the author becomes scheduled to speak at the literary festival that Sophie will work at. That is the set-up of the book.
*********************************
My Reactions:
I couldn't help but like Sophie. Although she is achingly insecure, Sophie is a kind woman. I liked how Mason depicted her as well as the other key characters. I squirmed as Sophie fell deeper into her unhealthy attachment.
The portrait of the author was fascinating and kept me guessing. The unlikely friendship she established with Sophie was interesting to think about as it progressed.
I also liked the subtle flashes of humor in the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is so different in character, almost defiantly so, to Sorrow and Bliss. Sophie is the nice, kind, almost self-effacing counterpart to Sorrow and Bliss' sardonic and spiteful Martha. This time, told in a third person voice, we are slightly at a distance from Sophie, and even the close reflections of what's in her head are mediated through the narrative voice which is itself kindly and sympathetic towards Sophie. Because Sophie is navigating a difficult break-up, is keeping a distance from her best friend, and whose loneliness is only alleviated through her brother, who is also lovely and kind.
It's quite hard to make all this niceness not feel saccharine, but Mason does manage that, not least through Sophie's job as a freelance tech support at book festivals. And this is a novel steeped in literature: some of the humour, albeit much less dark, that we've come to expect, emerges from the festivals where all manner of things go hilariously wrong. But it's also the case that Sophie's emotional prop turns out to be an obsession with a writer whose books she has loved.
In lots of ways this is a feel-good book that made me smile and go 'awwww' at the end. Not all 'sad girl' books have to be dark, sharp and spiky - and this one proves it. I especially love Mason's cheekiness in telling stories in the novel of real-life authors: Mick Herron, Richard Osman, Zadie Smith all get name-checked, and it's intriguing thinking about who the original of Lilac might have been in Mason's head, if anyone real.
So lovers of Sorrow and Bliss might have to make an emotional adjustment with this book - but in the end, in its quiet, nice, kind way, it won me over: 3.5 stars
Many thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC via NetGalley
It's quite hard to make all this niceness not feel saccharine, but Mason does manage that, not least through Sophie's job as a freelance tech support at book festivals. And this is a novel steeped in literature: some of the humour, albeit much less dark, that we've come to expect, emerges from the festivals where all manner of things go hilariously wrong. But it's also the case that Sophie's emotional prop turns out to be an obsession with a writer whose books she has loved.
In lots of ways this is a feel-good book that made me smile and go 'awwww' at the end. Not all 'sad girl' books have to be dark, sharp and spiky - and this one proves it. I especially love Mason's cheekiness in telling stories in the novel of real-life authors: Mick Herron, Richard Osman, Zadie Smith all get name-checked, and it's intriguing thinking about who the original of Lilac might have been in Mason's head, if anyone real.
So lovers of Sorrow and Bliss might have to make an emotional adjustment with this book - but in the end, in its quiet, nice, kind way, it won me over: 3.5 stars
Many thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC via NetGalley
August 11, 2026
“I swear, I was just turning pages by the end”.
Most apt quote from this book.
Most apt quote from this book.
June 17, 2026
I’ve not read any of Meg Mason’s books before but, given how many times Sorrow and Bliss has been recommended to me, I jumped at the chance to read this ARC of Sophie, Standing There. Unfortunately, it wasn’t for me!
Firstly, the protagonist was not one I was rooting for. Maybe I just have little patience for passivity, but Sophie, come on. I really wanted Sophie to just suck it up, say how she feels and make an active choice for once in her life. The purpose of the novel, perhaps. But where was the character development?
The story itself is quite uneventful really. The interesting elements are all in the form of meditations on Sophie’s past, which were included almost as afterthoughts. There were some revelations about Sophie’s past that felt like they were supposed to be plot twists or bombshells, but they were revealed in such a half-hearted way and with no breadcrumbs leading up to them, so much so that it just felt confusing.
I sadly found the book’s core story both pretentious and unbelievable. It read a little like how I imagine a boring fan fiction to be. It doesn’t help that the focus of the desire being an utterly intolerable, unkind and vacuous woman, and I don’t think that was thoroughly explored.
Overall, I'm really not sure what this book was trying to do.
Thanks NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for this ARC!
Firstly, the protagonist was not one I was rooting for. Maybe I just have little patience for passivity, but Sophie, come on. I really wanted Sophie to just suck it up, say how she feels and make an active choice for once in her life. The purpose of the novel, perhaps. But where was the character development?
The story itself is quite uneventful really. The interesting elements are all in the form of meditations on Sophie’s past, which were included almost as afterthoughts. There were some revelations about Sophie’s past that felt like they were supposed to be plot twists or bombshells, but they were revealed in such a half-hearted way and with no breadcrumbs leading up to them, so much so that it just felt confusing.
I sadly found the book’s core story both pretentious and unbelievable. It read a little like how I imagine a boring fan fiction to be. It doesn’t help that the focus of the desire being an utterly intolerable, unkind and vacuous woman, and I don’t think that was thoroughly explored.
Overall, I'm really not sure what this book was trying to do.
Thanks NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for this ARC!
April 8, 2026
I think readers will feel the exact same way about Sophie, Standing There as they did about Sorrow & Bliss.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
"In this much anticipated novel, Meg Mason captures the heartache and dark humor of our relationships in all their complexity, with a story about the power of connection and an ode to the inexplicable nature of the human heart."
Sophie Pattison loves books and works for a book festival. She is married and has a best friend, Emma. Suddenly she finds herself spending Christmas alone. In her grief, she becomes obsessed with a famous author Lilac Dunne. As she gets to know the author better, she realizes that her public and private persona are very different.
There is a lot of name dropping and book references which are fun but I felt the story didn't connect me to Sophie and I failed to see that she experienced any growth in joy or confidence by the end. This came recommended by Ann Patchett which gave me high expectations that, for me, it just didn't live up to. I liked it but felt it was slow and meandered.
The audiobook performance by Katherine Parkinson (9 hours 18 minutes) was good but seemed to be a much faster pace than most. Sophie's emotions were felt through the narration.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper, Libro FM and Meg Mason for the gifted advance reader's copy and advance listening copy. All opinions are my own. 📚🎧
Sophie Pattison loves books and works for a book festival. She is married and has a best friend, Emma. Suddenly she finds herself spending Christmas alone. In her grief, she becomes obsessed with a famous author Lilac Dunne. As she gets to know the author better, she realizes that her public and private persona are very different.
There is a lot of name dropping and book references which are fun but I felt the story didn't connect me to Sophie and I failed to see that she experienced any growth in joy or confidence by the end. This came recommended by Ann Patchett which gave me high expectations that, for me, it just didn't live up to. I liked it but felt it was slow and meandered.
The audiobook performance by Katherine Parkinson (9 hours 18 minutes) was good but seemed to be a much faster pace than most. Sophie's emotions were felt through the narration.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper, Libro FM and Meg Mason for the gifted advance reader's copy and advance listening copy. All opinions are my own. 📚🎧
August 12, 2026
Such a shame, as I love Sorrow & Bliss, but both the writing style and the plot were all over the place.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
📖 Won in a giveaway 📚
3.5 stars. This book turned out to be pretty interesting. I was going back and forth on my rating. A good chunk of the book earlier on, I didn't really like. It wasn't really keeping my attention. I was waiting for the story to go somewhere. The main character, Sophie, meets a famous author named Lilac Dunne. Sophie went through a painful divorce and pretty much shuts out her best friend, Emma and Lilac becomes her main focus. Lilac seems very sure of herself and Sophie is drawn to her confidence. The feelings keep developing and it becomes a bit unhealthy as she learns Lilac doesn't feel the same way. I enjoyed the interactions Sophie had with Lilac. The story definitely picked up for me and it became hard to put down. The emotions in the book feel very real. I became sympathetic for Sophie. I wish the book had caught my attention sooner but I was happy for the parts I did enjoy. Thank you to the author, Meg Mason, Harper Collins and Goodreads for my free copy. Happy reading! ✒️📚
3.5 stars. This book turned out to be pretty interesting. I was going back and forth on my rating. A good chunk of the book earlier on, I didn't really like. It wasn't really keeping my attention. I was waiting for the story to go somewhere. The main character, Sophie, meets a famous author named Lilac Dunne. Sophie went through a painful divorce and pretty much shuts out her best friend, Emma and Lilac becomes her main focus. Lilac seems very sure of herself and Sophie is drawn to her confidence. The feelings keep developing and it becomes a bit unhealthy as she learns Lilac doesn't feel the same way. I enjoyed the interactions Sophie had with Lilac. The story definitely picked up for me and it became hard to put down. The emotions in the book feel very real. I became sympathetic for Sophie. I wish the book had caught my attention sooner but I was happy for the parts I did enjoy. Thank you to the author, Meg Mason, Harper Collins and Goodreads for my free copy. Happy reading! ✒️📚
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July 1, 2026Nothing good can come from listening to podcasts 👍
October 7, 2026
My second DNF of the year.
Wasn’t relatable. (Maybe I am getting old. 😂😂)
I had no interest or connection to the characters.
It was a slog to pick up and have too many other books waiting to be read.
This makes me sad, as I loved this author’s previous work, Sorrow and Bliss. I still recommend this book to fellow book people.
My apologies, Karen, I told you I would finish it and just could not. I await your review Karen.
Wasn’t relatable. (Maybe I am getting old. 😂😂)
I had no interest or connection to the characters.
It was a slog to pick up and have too many other books waiting to be read.
This makes me sad, as I loved this author’s previous work, Sorrow and Bliss. I still recommend this book to fellow book people.
My apologies, Karen, I told you I would finish it and just could not. I await your review Karen.
September 1, 2026
A long-anticipated novel that I very much enjoyed while I was reading it, but I fear it's already slipping away from me. I bought the audiobook edition because I saw it was narrated by a favourite actress - Katherine Parkinson. She did a fantastic job of it. She performed Lilac Dunne ('the Author') with this kind of cold intimacy that was really effective for the story, and I wonder if I'd have 'read' the character the same way if I'd opted for a text edition. I suspect not, in which case I might have missed the point to a degree.
August 31, 2026
Sorrow and Bliss this book is not. The pacing is uneven, the major plotline too far-fetched, and although the narrative clearly expects us to sympathize with, and root for Sophie, I found myself increasingly frustrated by her relentless people-pleasing and inability to assert herself, which is only somewhat contextualized around the two-thirds mark. What a shame.
May 26, 2026
I’ve been waiting for this novel ever since reading Sorrow and Bliss for book club years ago, and I’m happy to report that *Sophie, Standing There* was absolutely worth the wait.
Meg Mason has such a gift for writing women in all their contradictions: the things they say, the things they swallow, and the things they barely admit to themselves. Sophie Pattison is described as warm, kind, and relentlessly positive, yet she can go an entire day without speaking and spends much of her life alone with books. Mason captures that loneliness with startling precision. At times the writing felt visceral… I could feel Sophie’s craving for connection and the ache of being unseen despite being loved by the people around her.
The literary festival backdrop was a delight for a book lover. Sophie’s work among authors, events, and readers gives the novel an irresistible bookish atmosphere and the storyline involving her growing attachment to a long-admired author is both unique and quietly tense. The parasocial relationship never feels gimmicky; instead, it becomes a thoughtful exploration of longing, companionship, and the stories we tell ourselves.
What I love most about Meg Mason is her ability to dig deep into the female psyche and bring to light feelings that many of us experience but rarely discuss. But for all its exploration of loneliness, this isn't a heavy or bleak read. Mason's wit shines throughout and there were several moments that had me laughing out loud. Sophie's ex-husband in particular is an absolute creation. The humor feels perfectly timed, providing a welcome counterbalance to the novel's more tender and heartbreaking moments.
If you're drawn to intelligent literary fiction, weird girl/sad girl stories, and beautifully crafted prose, this is an easy recommendation. Sophie, Standing There is a moving story about loneliness, love, and the unexpected ways we find connection. As someone who has always turned to books for comfort, I loved the way Meg Mason explores how stories can keep us company when we need them most, while reminding us that real connection can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.
Meg Mason has such a gift for writing women in all their contradictions: the things they say, the things they swallow, and the things they barely admit to themselves. Sophie Pattison is described as warm, kind, and relentlessly positive, yet she can go an entire day without speaking and spends much of her life alone with books. Mason captures that loneliness with startling precision. At times the writing felt visceral… I could feel Sophie’s craving for connection and the ache of being unseen despite being loved by the people around her.
The literary festival backdrop was a delight for a book lover. Sophie’s work among authors, events, and readers gives the novel an irresistible bookish atmosphere and the storyline involving her growing attachment to a long-admired author is both unique and quietly tense. The parasocial relationship never feels gimmicky; instead, it becomes a thoughtful exploration of longing, companionship, and the stories we tell ourselves.
What I love most about Meg Mason is her ability to dig deep into the female psyche and bring to light feelings that many of us experience but rarely discuss. But for all its exploration of loneliness, this isn't a heavy or bleak read. Mason's wit shines throughout and there were several moments that had me laughing out loud. Sophie's ex-husband in particular is an absolute creation. The humor feels perfectly timed, providing a welcome counterbalance to the novel's more tender and heartbreaking moments.
If you're drawn to intelligent literary fiction, weird girl/sad girl stories, and beautifully crafted prose, this is an easy recommendation. Sophie, Standing There is a moving story about loneliness, love, and the unexpected ways we find connection. As someone who has always turned to books for comfort, I loved the way Meg Mason explores how stories can keep us company when we need them most, while reminding us that real connection can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.
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August 19, 2026As much a love letter to pathological people pleasers as it is a threat to book publicists.
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October 14, 2026This is a novel about about everything I would love to read in a novel. Newly divorced book lover Sophie's life is in a mess. She is slowly getting estranged from her best friend Emma, pulling away from her brother, and spiraling into grief and mental illness. She finds solace in re-reading an author she loved in her twenties. Slowly she becomes obsessed and develops a parasocial relationship with the author. When the said author is visiting the local book fest and there could be encounters between the two women, Sophie is scared, thrilled and also very much infatuated.
Sometimes I wondered whether this book was Sophie's voice or the author's. I have read that this book was written in the aftermath of the success that followed Meg Mason after the publication of Sorrow and Bliss. I could often feel the authorial intrusion that kept interrupting the character Sophie. I found myself wondering could a scene have been a subtweet about some reader interaction Mason had in real life? I felt Sophie, unlikable as she was, was never allowed to shine on her own. There's always an other-ly author gaze on her. As for the author Sophie falls in love with—extremely unlikeable. Her intrusive questions about Sophie not having a child seemed so evil that I cannot understand how Sophie, in spite of her childhood upbringing and personal problems, could continue to be in love with her, and sharing conversations with her. Even the conversation with Emma towards the end of the novel, where Sophie and Emma work out their feelings, seemed too cardboard-ish or 'for the subplot to conclude'. The middle portion of the book sagged and dragged. But I read till the end hoping things would look better; after all I think Meg Mason has a wonderful way of getting into the head of her characters.
I absolutely adored Sorrow and Bliss and cried reading it. I loved the character sketches, the spiraling and overthinking, and I highly recommend it. But Sophie, Standing There did not evoke emotions in me. In this novel there's a quote that ultimately writers want their characters to be unforgettable. Sadly, for me, I could not wait to get away from Sophie and this novel.
Audiobook narrated by Katherine Parkinson
Thank you to Libro FM for the audiobook. All opinions are my own.
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Sometimes I wondered whether this book was Sophie's voice or the author's. I have read that this book was written in the aftermath of the success that followed Meg Mason after the publication of Sorrow and Bliss. I could often feel the authorial intrusion that kept interrupting the character Sophie. I found myself wondering could a scene have been a subtweet about some reader interaction Mason had in real life? I felt Sophie, unlikable as she was, was never allowed to shine on her own. There's always an other-ly author gaze on her. As for the author Sophie falls in love with—extremely unlikeable. Her intrusive questions about Sophie not having a child seemed so evil that I cannot understand how Sophie, in spite of her childhood upbringing and personal problems, could continue to be in love with her, and sharing conversations with her. Even the conversation with Emma towards the end of the novel, where Sophie and Emma work out their feelings, seemed too cardboard-ish or 'for the subplot to conclude'. The middle portion of the book sagged and dragged. But I read till the end hoping things would look better; after all I think Meg Mason has a wonderful way of getting into the head of her characters.
I absolutely adored Sorrow and Bliss and cried reading it. I loved the character sketches, the spiraling and overthinking, and I highly recommend it. But Sophie, Standing There did not evoke emotions in me. In this novel there's a quote that ultimately writers want their characters to be unforgettable. Sadly, for me, I could not wait to get away from Sophie and this novel.
Audiobook narrated by Katherine Parkinson
Thank you to Libro FM for the audiobook. All opinions are my own.
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August 11, 2026
2.5
Unfortunately after my surprise enjoyment of Sorrow and Bliss this really didn't work for me... :(
I'm usually a sucker for books about the publishing industry but this felt a bit too insular to really land. If you didn't care about the ins and outs and gossip of writers festivals, I don't think the rest of this is strong enough to keep you engaged. Sophie is unfortunately a wet blanket until we get her backstory infodumped to us around the 2/3 mark, and her relationship with Lilac was promising until it wasn't (which was kind of the point but still...)
I just couldn't really root for Sophie through any of this, and the ending giving rom-com montage also felt like a very strange and rushed way to end this story. The complexities of the relationship between her and Lilac felt too surface-level compared to what I found in Sorrow and Bliss, and while it is making a commentary on celebrities becoming a replacement for real-life relationships, the reveal about Sophie's background makes it feel like her insular upbringing is the only reason she was susceptible to this which also didn't really make sense to me. I think this could have done a lot more with the idea of entitlement and access afforded by social media, especially as authors feel like a more attainable level of celebrity to meet and interact with.
I just didn't care about a lot of what was happening here which is sad because there was potential! I feel there are a few books around now about idol and fangirl culture from a cautionary tale perspective and I don't think this was really trying to do that, but I also can't really work out what it IS doing. Writers festivals as being a place to meet physically with likeminded people but also how it's all pretence? How we conflate being seen by a novel into being seen by an author, and we form a soul-connection that's entirely one-sided? But then what? And there's a point where Sophie mentions she doesn't think she's smart enough to read because she always takes things at face-value and can't detect an unreliable narrator - is that what was happening here?
Idk I just feel pretty ambivalent about this which is a shame - I think a lot of similar themes are here from Sorrow and Bliss but it just didn't feel as well-constructed in my opinion. It kind of satisfies the desire for writer's festival tea but I think if you're here for that you're kind of here for the wrong reasons; but also I don't really know how to recommend this one either.
Unfortunately after my surprise enjoyment of Sorrow and Bliss this really didn't work for me... :(
I'm usually a sucker for books about the publishing industry but this felt a bit too insular to really land. If you didn't care about the ins and outs and gossip of writers festivals, I don't think the rest of this is strong enough to keep you engaged. Sophie is unfortunately a wet blanket until we get her backstory infodumped to us around the 2/3 mark, and her relationship with Lilac was promising until it wasn't (which was kind of the point but still...)
I just couldn't really root for Sophie through any of this, and the ending giving rom-com montage also felt like a very strange and rushed way to end this story. The complexities of the relationship between her and Lilac felt too surface-level compared to what I found in Sorrow and Bliss, and while it is making a commentary on celebrities becoming a replacement for real-life relationships, the reveal about Sophie's background makes it feel like her insular upbringing is the only reason she was susceptible to this which also didn't really make sense to me. I think this could have done a lot more with the idea of entitlement and access afforded by social media, especially as authors feel like a more attainable level of celebrity to meet and interact with.
I just didn't care about a lot of what was happening here which is sad because there was potential! I feel there are a few books around now about idol and fangirl culture from a cautionary tale perspective and I don't think this was really trying to do that, but I also can't really work out what it IS doing. Writers festivals as being a place to meet physically with likeminded people but also how it's all pretence? How we conflate being seen by a novel into being seen by an author, and we form a soul-connection that's entirely one-sided? But then what? And there's a point where Sophie mentions she doesn't think she's smart enough to read because she always takes things at face-value and can't detect an unreliable narrator - is that what was happening here?
Idk I just feel pretty ambivalent about this which is a shame - I think a lot of similar themes are here from Sorrow and Bliss but it just didn't feel as well-constructed in my opinion. It kind of satisfies the desire for writer's festival tea but I think if you're here for that you're kind of here for the wrong reasons; but also I don't really know how to recommend this one either.
August 21, 2026
Character studies involving very thin plots are not my go to reading experience and 50 pages into “Sophie , Standing There” I thought I was in for a drawn out and not very enjoyable experience.
But I was wrong. Meg Mason’s writing and her nurturing of a character that has been beaten into submissiveness seemingly all her life and especially by a husband no father would ever want for his daughter, created an experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. I was acutely aware that, in Sophie, I was being delivered a character who deserved your support and attention. And she deserved a brother like Laurie.
I think the cleverest part of the book is the delivery of the aspects that made Sophie the person she is. It was a collection of some very different challenges life throws up that give you cause to barrack for Sophie with everything you have.
This was a really pleasant surprise.
But I was wrong. Meg Mason’s writing and her nurturing of a character that has been beaten into submissiveness seemingly all her life and especially by a husband no father would ever want for his daughter, created an experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. I was acutely aware that, in Sophie, I was being delivered a character who deserved your support and attention. And she deserved a brother like Laurie.
I think the cleverest part of the book is the delivery of the aspects that made Sophie the person she is. It was a collection of some very different challenges life throws up that give you cause to barrack for Sophie with everything you have.
This was a really pleasant surprise.
August 15, 2026
Sad to give a Meg Mason book 3 stars. The first part was painful, there were sections that made me feel something - but not enough throughout. I love the style of writing, the story just didn’t do much for me. (After reading some of the reviews, turns out I don’t have an original thought in my brain.)
February 12, 2026
Adored this one. But it’s not out till august 😱.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Meg Mason’s latest novel, “Sophie, Standing There” is a love letter to readers who think their favorite authors are equivalent to rock stars! I confess I’m a bit of a super-fan of several authors myself, and after I read “Sorrow and Bliss” Meg Mason became one of them.
Thirty-eight-year-old Sophie is a sound tech who puts the microphones on famous writers during large book festivals. She is regularly ignored by those writers as she adjusts their headsets and clips the battery packs inside their shirts - invisible in the wings.
Sophie has been having a difficult time as her husband recently harshly discarded her. In her grief she pushes her best friend Emma away, but she is exceptionally close to her brother Laurie, who, because of their unique childhood, is the only person who truly understands her.
Sophie is an accommodating person. She is good at her job, and unbidden she even performs tasks at work to make life easier on those around her. But Sophie is lonely, and grieving. With everyone in her life Sophie is extremely accommodating, so much so that she is unable to stand up for herself.
Sophie, like many others, is a huge fan of a beautiful actress who has become a bestselling and sought after novelist. Sophie, in her loneliness, develops an imaginary relationship with this celebrity author; reading and re-reading her books, listening her interviews and podcasts over and over. She even starts to imagine that the author is there with her – conversing with her. A friend. She imagines that she is falling in love with this author.
So, when this author is scheduled to appear at Sophie’s festival, Sophie begins to spiral. She both wants and doesn’t want to meet her. What will this famous author be like in person? How will Sophie respond?
Not many authors can pull of hilarity and gut-wrenching sadness the way Mason can! Her characters, Sophie and the author especially, are fully realized and complex.
Sophie’s story is compelling and unique. Without judgement, Mason gradually reveals the ways in which Sophie and Laurie’s childhood was unconventional and complicated and how it has impacted their adulthoods.
I received an advance copy (galley) of the novel from Harper and so when Sophie obtains a galley of the celebrity author’s new book the reverence with which she approached it felt meta to me; I had just done that with the book I was holding!
Mason has indeed written a love letter to fans of contemporary literature. Many real authors appear in the story (in a fictional way) and there are many references to well-loved novels. If it is the goal of a novelist to create unforgettable characters, and structure plots that make the reader reluctant to put the book down and reenter “real life”, then Mason has achieved that goal. Brava!
(And yes, I will be listening to Meg Mason give interviews on “Sophie, Standing There” on YouTube and podcasts when the novel comes out in September!)
Thirty-eight-year-old Sophie is a sound tech who puts the microphones on famous writers during large book festivals. She is regularly ignored by those writers as she adjusts their headsets and clips the battery packs inside their shirts - invisible in the wings.
Sophie has been having a difficult time as her husband recently harshly discarded her. In her grief she pushes her best friend Emma away, but she is exceptionally close to her brother Laurie, who, because of their unique childhood, is the only person who truly understands her.
Sophie is an accommodating person. She is good at her job, and unbidden she even performs tasks at work to make life easier on those around her. But Sophie is lonely, and grieving. With everyone in her life Sophie is extremely accommodating, so much so that she is unable to stand up for herself.
Sophie, like many others, is a huge fan of a beautiful actress who has become a bestselling and sought after novelist. Sophie, in her loneliness, develops an imaginary relationship with this celebrity author; reading and re-reading her books, listening her interviews and podcasts over and over. She even starts to imagine that the author is there with her – conversing with her. A friend. She imagines that she is falling in love with this author.
So, when this author is scheduled to appear at Sophie’s festival, Sophie begins to spiral. She both wants and doesn’t want to meet her. What will this famous author be like in person? How will Sophie respond?
Not many authors can pull of hilarity and gut-wrenching sadness the way Mason can! Her characters, Sophie and the author especially, are fully realized and complex.
Sophie’s story is compelling and unique. Without judgement, Mason gradually reveals the ways in which Sophie and Laurie’s childhood was unconventional and complicated and how it has impacted their adulthoods.
I received an advance copy (galley) of the novel from Harper and so when Sophie obtains a galley of the celebrity author’s new book the reverence with which she approached it felt meta to me; I had just done that with the book I was holding!
Mason has indeed written a love letter to fans of contemporary literature. Many real authors appear in the story (in a fictional way) and there are many references to well-loved novels. If it is the goal of a novelist to create unforgettable characters, and structure plots that make the reader reluctant to put the book down and reenter “real life”, then Mason has achieved that goal. Brava!
(And yes, I will be listening to Meg Mason give interviews on “Sophie, Standing There” on YouTube and podcasts when the novel comes out in September!)
October 3, 2026
3.5 stars - the audiobook narration was mesmerizing, but the story didn't always keep my attention. It was a slow novel, about Sophie and her fascination with a novelist. I did love all the bookish references, and felt bad for Sophie for much of the novel but liked watching her growth at the end. This is my first novel by Meg Mason, and I would gladly pick up her next.
Did Not Finish
October 28, 2026Ugh, I tried, not at all what I was expecting. I didn’t connect 😐.
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