We are delighted to announce the signing of The Weight of Living, a moving and emotionally resonant contemporary women’s fiction debut by North Wales–based author Rhian Steele.
Steele, a primary school teacher and lifelong reader, brings her love of heartfelt storytelling to this powerful novel about rebuilding a life after heartbreak. Drawing on her own experiences with mental health, she writes with honesty, warmth, and a deep understanding of the quiet battles many people face. Her work blends tenderness with sharp wit, offering readers both comfort and catharsis.
The Weight of Living follows Tilly, a teacher whose marriage unravels under the strain of emotional neglect and betrayal. Forced to start over, she moves in with her best friend’s infuriating older brother – only to discover unexpected compassion beneath his gruff exterior. Through dual perspectives, the novel explores self-esteem, body image, disordered eating, and anxiety with rare authenticity, while delivering a romance full of vulnerability, hope, and slow-burning connection.
We’re incredibly proud to welcome Rhian to our list! Her writing is heartfelt, courageous, and beautifully grounded in real emotional experience. The Weight of Living is a story that will stay with readers long after they turn the final page.
The Weight of Living is set for publication in 2026.
