A Thought-Provoking Read: Jessica by Nicholas Hill

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A Thought-Provoking Read: Jessica by Nicholas Hill – Nicholas Hill’s novel Jessica is a gripping and thought-provoking story about family secrets, hidden truths, and the unexpected ways the past can come back to haunt us. Based on real-life experiences, this semi-autobiographical novel dives deep into love, regret, and how our past choices shape our future. Hill, who once worked as a young actor in London, brings a personal touch to the story that makes it feel authentic and relatable.

The book follows Harry, a middle-aged property developer who seems to have it all—except when it comes to love. Just as he’s bracing himself for the end of his latest relationship, a mysterious young woman named Jessica shows up on his doorstep. Her arrival turns his life upside down, forcing him to confront a past he’s tried to forget. But that past still holds secrets that could completely derail his future.

What makes Jessica stand out is how it tackles tricky subjects like sex work, power dynamics, and personal identity with a sensitive and thoughtful approach. Hill doesn’t shy away from the complexities of the sex trade, asking tough questions: Is there a difference between a woman working on the street and one who has regular clients? What about young women financially dependent on older men? And how does all of this connect to self-exploration and struggling with sexuality? These are big topics, but Hill handles them with nuance and care.

Set in London and weaving between past and present, the novel explores love, naivety, and the challenges of truly understanding what’s important in life. Hill’s writing is warm, honest, and easy to connect with, making Jessica an enjoyable yet thought-provoking read. His background in real estate across Europe and Southern Africa adds depth to the story’s setting, while his personal reflections make it emotionally compelling.

Hill himself has said, “When I write, I find myself unpicking the rich tapestry of my own life, and Jessica is a semi-autobiographical family drama. I draw affectionately on my experiences and friendships as a young actor in London and have tried to deal with challenging issues such as sex work and diverse sexuality with respect and sensitivity. I also look nostalgically at my loss of innocence following an idyllic childhood in Snowdonia. Is the past a foreign country it’s best not to visit, or are we hostages to its shadows?”

If you love contemporary fiction that isn’t afraid to ask big questions while still delivering an engaging story, Jessica should be on your reading list.

Poppy Watt

A recommendation from award-winning writer, Clare MacKintosh.

Author looks back to Wirral childhood in new novel set on the peninsula

16th September

By Jamie Bowman@JamieBowman77Community Content Editor

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An author has gone back to his Wirral roots in his new book which will be launched at West Kirby Bookshop.

Nicholas Hill, who works as a  commercial property developer in the South of France, where he lives with his wife, Samantha, and their three young children, has used the peninsula as the setting for The Journey - a novel about "relationships, choices and family and how no one is protected from events beyond our control".

"I was six when my family moved from Snowdonia to West Kirby, and I have fond memories of a childhood sailing on the Marine Lake, playing on Calday Beach and exploring Thurstaston Common," said Nicholas, 63. 

"By the time I left Calday Grange Grammar School, however, I was ready to travel, and after studying at the London School of Economics, I set off to explore the world.

"40 years later, having spent most of my working life in Africa and Continental Europe, I am excited to be reconnecting with the Wirral!"

The Journey is available at the newly opened West Kirby Bookshop, where Nicholas will be hosting a private launch event on Tuesday, September 20, and from Waterstones, WHSmith, Foyles, Blackwell’s and Amazon UK.

Tickets to the launch may be obtained from: [email protected].

Nicholas added: “The idea for writing The Journey came on a family trip to the Lake District when I saw a job vacancy pinned to the front door of a pub.

"My three young children were misbehaving, and I imagined abandoning my life as a loving husband and father to start a new life, free of responsibility in an idyllic rural village.

"After I bought ice-creams, my children’s behaviour improved, but I was still struck by the idea, one of the key elements in my novel. Another is how nothing is ever certain – how our well-laid plans are forever at the mercy of events we can’t control.

"With beautiful settings on the Wirral and in the Lake District and likeable characters, The Journey is an easy read for a Sunday afternoon, the daily commute or a day on the beach.”

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The Journey Nicholas Hill (The Book Guild) 
A fitting title for a holiday read and with some beautiful settings on the Wirral and in the Lake District, this novel by the president of the ESU France Aix-Marseille branch follows the story of car salesman Simon, and what happens when an accident shatters his world.